Chương 12
Claire did not seem to hear the cartoon still playing in the next room.Her eyes stayed fixed on Alexander.“The chain was intact when Lily stopped him.”Lily nodded quickly.“It made a loud noise.”Claire looked at her daughter.“What kind of noise?”“Like metal.”Nathan closed the laptop halfway.“If the chain is broken now, someone entered after that.”Marcus put his sandwich back in the bag.“That seems like the bigger problem.”Claire was already dialing the building manager again.Alexander reached for her wrist.She stopped before the call connected.“What?”“Tell him not to enter.”“I already did.”“Tell him to leave the floor.”Her face changed.“Why?”“Because if someone entered your apartment after Mercer left, we don’t know whether they’re still there.”Claire stared at him.Marcus was already moving toward the office door.“Building address?”Claire gave it.Marcus repeated it into his phone as he walked out.Alexander released her wrist.“Call the manager.”Claire did.The man answered almost immediately.“Mr. Rosen, listen to me carefully.”She paced toward the windows.“Are you inside my apartment?”A pause.Her shoulders loosened slightly.“Good.”Another pause.“No, do not go back in.”She listened.“What do you mean you already looked?”Alexander’s expression hardened.Claire turned toward him.“Did you touch anything?”Her eyes closed.“Okay.”Another pause.“No, I’m not angry.”Marcus appeared at the doorway and mouthed, She’s angry.Claire pointed at him without looking.Marcus disappeared again.“Mr. Rosen, go downstairs and wait in the lobby.”She listened.“Yes.”“No, don’t clean anything.”Her forehead tightened.“Why would you clean anything?”Alexander looked toward the ceiling.Claire pinched the bridge of her nose.“No, please do not straighten up.”A pause.“Thank you.”She ended the call.“What did he touch?” Nathan asked.“The door.”“Anything else?”“He said he picked up a lamp.”Alexander frowned.“Why was a lamp on the floor?”Claire looked sick.“Because somebody knocked it over.”Marcus returned.“I have two men nearby.”Claire looked at him.“What men?”“Employees.”“What kind?”“The kind who can stand in a lobby without touching lamps.”She did not smile.“Are they armed?”Marcus glanced at Alexander.Claire followed his glance.“Of course they’re armed.”Alexander said, “They won’t enter.”“I don’t want armed men around my building.”“They’ll stay downstairs.”“My neighbors live there.”“That’s why they’ll stay downstairs.”Claire shook her head.“This is insane.”Alexander said nothing.She looked at him.“Do you ever disagree when people say that?”“Occasionally.”Nathan reopened his laptop.“We should contact police.”Claire’s head turned.Marcus leaned against the doorframe.Alexander remained still.Claire looked between them.“You agree?”“Yes,” Alexander said.That surprised her.“You’re telling me to call the police.”“Yes.”“I thought you avoided police.”“I do.”“Then why?”“Because someone forced entry into your home.”“And because of the paper trail,” Nathan said.Claire looked at him.“If this becomes a board issue, you need an independent record that predates whatever Mercer says tomorrow.”Alexander nodded.“You also need someone other than us documenting the apartment.”Claire stared at her phone.“If I call police and Daniel hears about it—”Marcus interrupted.“He will.”Claire looked at him.“Probably,” Marcus added.“That is not helpful.”“It is accurate.”She turned to Alexander.“He’ll use it.”“He may.”“He’ll tell the board I’m creating drama hours before a major vote.”“Then let him.”“That’s easy for you to say.”“No.”Alexander’s voice stayed quiet.“It’s easier for me to say than for you to do.”That stopped her.He continued.“But you cannot protect your reputation by pretending your home wasn’t entered.”Claire looked toward the sitting-room door.The four girls had become silent.They were listening again.She lowered her voice.“You’re right.”Marcus looked surprised.Claire noticed.“Don’t look so shocked.”“I’m not.”“You are.”“I was thinking.”“That’s apparently dangerous around here too.”Alexander almost smiled.Claire dialed 911.Her voice became different when the dispatcher answered.Controlled.Precise.She gave her name, address, explained that she was not currently home, that someone had apparently forced entry, that her building manager had disturbed the scene, and that four children had been in the apartment the previous evening when an unauthorized person attempted access.She did not mention Mercer’s name until the dispatcher asked whether she suspected anyone.Claire hesitated.Alexander watched her.Then she said, “Yes.”The word seemed to cost her something.She gave Daniel Mercer’s full name.When the call ended, Sophie appeared in the doorway.“Are police going to arrest him?”Claire looked at her.“I don’t know.”“Should they?”“Sweetheart.”“I’m asking.”Claire rubbed her forehead.“I know.”Sophie folded her arms.She had inherited her mother’s posture almost perfectly.Claire said, “Police have to figure out what happened.”Sophie looked at Alexander.“Do you think they’ll arrest him?”Claire immediately said, “Do not ask him.”Alexander answered anyway.“Not yet.”Sophie frowned.“Why?”“Because suspicion is not proof.”“He tried to come inside.”“Lily saw him try.”“That’s proof.”“It’s evidence.”Sophie’s frown deepened.“What’s the difference?”Alexander glanced at Claire.She looked exhausted but curious.“Proof is what survives questions.”Sophie thought about that.Then she said, “That sounds annoying.”“It often is.”She went back into the other room.Claire watched her leave.“You’re strangely good with children.”“I’m not.”“You are.”“My son would disagree.”“He’s seventeen.”“That does not make him an unreliable witness.”Claire looked at the photograph on his desk again.“You said his mother died.”Alexander nodded.“Cancer?”“No.”He did not elaborate.Claire did not ask.That earned something from him she could not see.Marcus’s phone buzzed.He checked it.“My guys are in the lobby.”“Anything?”“Building manager is there.”“And?”Marcus read.“He keeps trying to explain the lamp.”Claire closed her eyes.“Why is the lamp so important to him?”“Maybe he liked it.”“It was ugly.”Marcus nodded solemnly.“Then perhaps justice has already been served.”Claire gave him a tired look.Nathan began gathering the digital logs into a separate encrypted folder.“You should forward copies to yourself somewhere outside Bennett systems.”Claire nodded.“Personal email?”“That’s one option.”“Is that safe?”“Safer than leaving the only copy inside company infrastructure controlled by someone you suspect.”Alexander asked, “Can Michael preserve copies too?”“Yes.”Claire looked reluctant.Marcus noticed.“You still don’t trust him.”“That’s not what I said.”“You didn’t need to.”She turned on him.“My brother made a stupid decision.”“One?”“Marcus.”“Sorry.”Claire shook her head.“I trust Michael.”Alexander watched her.“Do you?”She looked at him.“Yes.”“That sounded like something you needed to hear yourself say.”Her jaw tightened.“You don’t know us.”“No.”“He is careless.”“Yes.”“He hates confrontation.”“Yes.”“He lets Daniel make decisions because Daniel makes everything sound simple.”“Yes.”“But Michael would never deliberately put my daughters at risk.”Alexander said nothing.Claire stepped closer.“Say it.”“I believe you believe that.”She laughed without humor.“That is infuriating.”“It is also true.”Nathan looked between them and returned to his laptop.Claire lowered her voice.“You think Michael might be involved.”“I think we know Mercer had access because Michael gave it to him.”“By mistake.”“Intent matters morally.”Alexander’s gaze stayed on hers.“Effect matters practically.”She looked away first.Her phone rang.This time it was a number she did not recognize.She answered.“Claire Bennett.”A woman introduced herself as Officer Ramirez and said patrol officers were on the way to the apartment.Claire listened.“Yes.”Another pause.“I can be there.”Alexander shook his head.Claire frowned at him.Officer Ramirez said something.Claire covered the microphone.“They want me to meet them.”“You should.”“Then why are you shaking your head?”“Not with the girls.”Claire looked toward the sitting room.The answer was obvious once he said it.She uncovered the phone.“Yes, I can meet them in about thirty minutes.”She ended the call.“I need to go.”“I’ll take you.”“No.”Alexander raised an eyebrow.“I can drive myself.”“Your car?”“At the café garage.”“That creates unnecessary stops.”Claire folded her arms.“I am not arriving at my apartment in your car.”“Why?”She stared at him.“Because you are Alexander Hayes.”“I’ve been told.”“Police will be there.”“Yes.”“You are a known criminal.”Marcus said from the doorway, “Alleged.”Claire looked at him.Marcus shrugged.“Legal vocabulary.”Alexander ignored him.“You called police because you need a record.”“Yes.”“Arriving with me does not erase it.”“It complicates it.”“That’s possible.”“It definitely does.”“Then Marcus can drive you.”Claire looked at Marcus.He smiled.She looked back at Alexander.“That is not less suspicious.”Marcus looked offended.“I own khakis.”Nathan said, “They’re actually very respectable.”Claire rubbed both hands over her face.“I want one normal person.”Everyone looked at Nathan.Nathan raised his hands.“I’m a cybersecurity consultant.”Claire sighed.“Fine.”Alexander said, “I’ll arrange another driver.”“No.”“No?”“I’ll take a rideshare.”Marcus stared at her.“To an active burglary scene?”“To my building.”“Where someone may have targeted you.”Claire’s anger returned.“I am not helpless.”Alexander’s voice became quieter.“I didn’t say you were.”“You keep making decisions as if I am.”“I’m reducing risks.”“They are my risks.”That landed.Marcus looked down.Nathan became very interested in a cable.Alexander held Claire’s gaze.“You’re right.”Her expression shifted.He continued.“I overstepped.”She appeared ready for an argument and had nowhere to put it.“Okay.”“I recommend you don’t travel alone.”“Recommendation.”“Yes.”“Not instruction.”“No.”Claire breathed out slowly.“That I can work with.”Alexander glanced toward Marcus.“Can Nina arrange a car with a driver Claire approves?”Marcus nodded.“Sure.”Claire gave Alexander a suspicious look.“That was fast.”“I learn occasionally.”“Your son must be exhausted.”“He is.”Marcus left to arrange the vehicle.Claire went into the sitting room to talk to the girls.Alexander remained by his desk.He could hear fragments.Mom has to go home.No, you cannot come.Yes, police will be there.No, nobody is arrested yet.No, Sophie, you cannot watch.Emma came out first.She stopped near Alexander.“Are we staying here?”“For now.”“With you?”“If your mother agrees.”Emma looked toward the sitting room.“She doesn’t like leaving us.”“I know.”“She’ll do it anyway if she thinks she has to.”Alexander studied her.Emma looked at his desk instead.“She does that a lot.”“What?”“Things she hates.”He said nothing.Emma ran one finger along the edge of the conference table.“Mr. Mercer says she makes decisions with her feelings.”“Most people do.”“He says important people don’t.”“He’s wrong.”Emma looked at him.“You make decisions with feelings?”“Yes.”She seemed surprised.“Like what?”Alexander considered lying.Instead he looked toward Lily, who was sitting cross-legged in the other room trying to open another juice box.“This morning.”Emma followed his gaze.Her expression softened.“You didn’t have to help us.”“No.”“Why did you?”Alexander took longer to answer than she expected.“Because you asked.”“That’s not a reason.”“It was enough.”Emma nodded slowly.Then she looked at the photograph of Ethan.“Does your son know you’re scary?”Alexander almost smiled.“Yes.”“Is he scared of you?”The question was so direct that it bypassed several defenses adults usually encountered.“Sometimes.”Emma looked uncomfortable.“That’s bad.”“Yes.”“You just admit things.”“Not always.”She thought about that.“My dad used to say sorry fast.”Alexander looked at her.Emma’s eyes dropped.“Mom says that was one of his good things.”“What was his name?”“Ben.”She gave a tiny smile.“He made terrible pancakes.”“Maybe that was one of his bad things.”“They were really bad.”“How bad?”“One time the smoke alarm went off and he told us it meant breakfast was ready.”Alexander laughed.It happened before he could stop it.Emma smiled.Then the smile disappeared as Claire came out.She had removed her suit jacket and rolled the sleeves of her blouse once.“I’m leaving the girls here for forty-five minutes.”Alexander nodded.“Maybe an hour.”“Okay.”“No one takes them anywhere.”“No.”“No one gives them anything I wouldn’t give them.”Alexander glanced at Marcus’s cheese snacks.“Define that.”Claire followed his gaze.“Nothing from Marcus.”From the hallway, Marcus called, “Unreasonable.”Claire continued.“They stay together.”“Yes.”“And if Daniel comes here—”“He won’t see them.”She stopped.Alexander’s tone had changed.Not louder.Harder.Claire looked at him for a moment.“Okay.”Nina appeared with keys.“The car is downstairs.”Claire looked toward the girls.All four had gathered in the doorway.Lily ran over and hugged her waist.Claire crouched and kissed each of them.Emma endured it.Sophie pretended to.Grace held on longer.Lily whispered something Alexander could not hear.Claire answered, “I promise.”Then she stood.Alexander walked her to the elevator.At the doors, she turned.“You are not coming.”“No.”“I mean it.”“I know.”“You have that look.”“What look?”“The one where you already decided something.”Alexander almost smiled.“I have a meeting.”“With criminals?”“Warehouses.”“That did not answer the question.”The elevator doors opened.Claire stepped inside.Before they closed, she said, “Thank you.”Alexander nodded.Then she was gone.He stood there another second.Marcus approached from behind.“You’re going to get involved deeper.”Alexander looked at him.“I already am.”“That is not what I said.”Marcus folded his arms.“You know exactly what I mean.”Alexander walked back toward the office.His phone buzzed before he reached the door.A message from an unknown number appeared.Stay away from Claire Bennett.Alexander stopped walking.Marcus saw his face.“What?”Alexander showed him the screen.Marcus read it twice.“Mercer?”“Maybe.”Another message arrived.You have a son too.Marcus’s expression changed.Alexander did not move.The office around him continued normally.Phones rang.Nina answered someone at reception.Lily laughed at something Sophie said.Nathan typed at the conference table.Then Alexander read the message again.Not because he had misunderstood it.Because there were some sentences that changed the shape of a room.Marcus lowered his voice.“Ethan.”Alexander was already dialing.His son answered on the fourth ring.“Hey.”Background noise filled the line.Teenagers talking.A basketball bouncing somewhere.Alexander’s pulse slowed by a fraction.“Where are you?”“School.”“Inside?”“Yes.”“Why?”Alexander looked through the glass wall toward the elevator Claire had just taken.“Stay there.”Ethan went quiet.“What happened?”“Nothing yet.”“That sounds bad.”Alexander closed his eyes briefly.Ethan knew him too well.“Do not leave campus until Marcus or I come for you.”“Dad.”“Ethan.”A pause.Then his son said, “Okay.”Alexander ended the call.Marcus was already making another.Alexander looked at the four girls through the open sitting-room door.Lily noticed him staring and waved.He lifted one hand automatically.Then his phone buzzed again.The third message contained no words.Only a photograph.Ethan stood outside his school that morning, backpack over one shoulder, looking down at his phone.The image had been taken from across the street.
