Chương 10
I sat slowly on the edge of the bed.
“Used her?”
“That’s what she said.”
“And Daniel?”
“He told her to lower her voice.”
“That sounds like him.”
“Then Mom said you would take everything.”
I stared at the carpet.
“What did he say to that?”
“Nothing at first.”
“Then?”
“He said you didn’t know enough.”
A chill moved through me.
“Enough about what?”
Claire was silent.
“Claire.”
“I don’t know.”
“Did he say anything else?”
“Yes.”
“What?”
“He said, ‘She only knows what I told her.’”
My hand tightened around the phone.
Daniel had always framed secrecy as protection.
I did not like business stress, he said.
I did not need to worry about ugly negotiations.
I had enough on my plate.
He had made exclusion sound considerate.
“Then what happened?”
“Mom laughed.”
“Laughed how?”
“Mean.”
That was specific enough.
“She told him he was stupid if he thought you wouldn’t figure it out.”
I stood again.
“What did he do?”
“He grabbed the folder.”
“The one she has now?”
“Yes.”
“How did she get it back?”
“I don’t know.”
“You were there.”
“Not for that part.”
Her voice sharpened.
“I went into the bathroom because they were screaming.”
I immediately regretted pushing.
“Okay.”
“When I came out, Daniel was standing by the front door.”
“And your mother?”
“Had her purse and the folder.”
“Did he stop her?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire’s breath shook slightly.
“He just told her to get out.”
I looked at the locked hotel door.
“Did he hit her?”
“No.”
“Threaten her?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Emily.”
“What?”
“Why did you ask that so fast?”
I looked at my reflection in the dark window.
“Because he hit me.”
Claire did not answer.
The silence stretched until I could hear Evelyn moving dishes somewhere behind her.
“Listen to me,” I said.
“Do not confront her.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
“Do not ask about the folder.”
“Okay.”
“And don’t let her leave it with you.”
“What am I supposed to do if she does?”
“Call me before you touch anything.”
“This is getting ridiculous.”
“Yes.”
“I mean legally ridiculous.”
“Yes.”
She exhaled.
“I hate this.”
“So do I.”
“Can’t you just tell me what’s happening?”
“I don’t know what’s happening.”
“That’s worse.”
“I know.”
There was movement on her end.
Claire’s voice changed.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“She’s coming.”
“Hang up.”
“Okay.”
The call ended.
I immediately called Rachel.
She answered with irritation already in her voice.
“If this is another piece of evidence changing locations, I am going to start charging you double.”
“It is.”
She went silent.
I told her everything Claire had said.
When I finished, Rachel asked, “Did Claire photograph anything?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Why good?”
“Because she does not need to become an amateur investigator.”
“She saw my name.”
“That is useful context, not evidence.”
“She also saw Evelyn’s name with EBR Holdings.”
“That is more useful.”
“So EBR is hers.”
“Not necessarily.”
I groaned.
“You’re impossible.”
“And still employed.”
“What do we do?”
“We do not have Claire seize the folder.”
“I know.”
“We do not have her copy documents.”
“I know.”
“We do not have her secretly record Evelyn.”
“I wasn’t going to suggest that.”
“You were thinking it.”
I said nothing.
“That silence confirms it.”
“Fine.”
Rachel continued.
“We may be able to establish the entity through public records and bank documents without touching that folder.”
“Can you do that tonight?”
“We are already doing it.”
“And if Evelyn destroys the folder?”
“Then she destroys the folder.”
“That sounds insane.”
“It is better than directing your sister-in-law to take documents from another person’s possession under uncertain circumstances.”
I leaned against the desk.
“Can I at least ask Claire what Evelyn says?”
“You can speak to your sister-in-law.”
“Thank you for the permission.”
“Do not become sarcastic with the lawyer keeping you from creating new problems.”
I looked down at my bare feet.
The hotel carpet had an abstract gray pattern that made every stain look intentional.
“Rachel.”
“Yes?”
“If EBR Holdings is Evelyn’s company, what does that mean?”
“It means we ask why Brooks Development transferred money to it.”
“And if there was no legitimate reason?”
“Then that becomes a significant issue.”
“For Daniel?”
“For Daniel, the company, potentially Evelyn, potentially the lender relationship, and depending on the source of funds, potentially you.”
I let out a short laugh with no humor in it.
“Everyone keeps finding creative ways for this to become my problem.”
“That is one way to describe marriage.”
“Don’t ever get married.”
“I’m divorced.”
“Right.”
“Twice.”
“See?”
“Focus.”
I sat again.
“What about the allowance?”
“What about it?”
“I want it stopped.”
“Tonight?”
“Yes.”
Rachel paused.
“That transfer comes from your funds through the company.”
“Yes.”
“We can stop future contributions from your side.”
“Do it.”
“Emily.”
“What?”
“Be sure.”
“I’m sure.”
“This is the first financial action you’re taking after the assault.”
“I know.”
“If anyone later characterizes it as retaliatory—”
“It isn’t.”
“Intent and appearance are not always the same.”
I looked at my bruised face reflected faintly in the television screen.
“Rachel, I have been voluntarily funding a ten-thousand-dollar monthly payment to a woman who watched her son hit me and then told me to leave my own house.”
Rachel was silent.
“I am no longer volunteering.”
“All right.”
My shoulders loosened slightly.
“Stop the next contribution.”
“And the extra amounts?”
“We have to determine what those were first.”
“Fine.”
The word came out harder than I intended.
A message from Claire appeared.
She wants to talk to you.
I stared at it.
Rachel said, “What happened?”
“Evelyn wants to talk to me.”
“Do you want to talk to her?”
“No.”
“Then don’t.”
Another message arrived.
She says it’s important.
I typed back.
About what?
Claire’s answer came quickly.
She says Daniel has lied to both of you.
I read it aloud.
Rachel exhaled through her nose.
“Interesting.”
“That sounded almost excited.”
“I am a litigator.”
“So what do I do?”
May you like
“Nothing impulsive.”
“I want to hear her.”
