Chapter 7 - The Price of Silence.
Marcus found Tessa inside a locked linen room ten minutes later.
She was shaken but conscious.
A strip of fabric had been tied around the outside handle to keep the door from opening.
Owen was gone.
Tessa insisted she had not been struck.
"He just told me to stay quiet if I wanted to keep breathing normally."
Claire went still.
Victor's face hardened.
"We're calling the police."
Celeste laughed from across the lounge.
"With what phone service?"
Marcus checked his screen.
"Signal jammer."
"Can you kill it?" Victor asked.
"If I find it."
"Find it."
Celeste folded her arms.
"This is becoming embarrassing."
Claire stared at her.
"For you?"
"For all of us."
Celeste looked at Tessa.
"Especially the staff who think stealing private financial records makes them heroes."
Tessa flinched.
Claire moved between them.
"Don't speak to her."
Celeste smiled.
"You really do love adopting causes."
"No."
Claire's voice was steady.
"I just finally understand how you choose victims."
Victor placed the transfer on a side table.
"Tell me about Samuel Price."
For the first time, Celeste's eyes flickered.
It lasted less than a second.
Victor saw it.
"Where is my lawyer?"
"Maybe he left."
"The doors are locked."
"Then maybe he is hiding from your speech."
Victor turned to Marcus.
"Find Samuel."
As Marcus left, Tessa gripped Claire's wrist.
"The ledger."
"Locker nineteen?"
Tessa nodded.
"It shows every payment."
"Payments to whom?"
"People Celeste bought."
Victor looked sharply at her.
"Inside my company?"
"Inside your company, your foundation, the venue, and your house."
The last word hit differently.
"My house?"
Tessa swallowed.
"She had copies of security schedules."
Claire remembered Celeste wandering through Victor's study months earlier, pretending she had gotten lost on the way to the library.
"How long has this been happening?"
"At least a year."
Adrian sat on the edge of a chair with both hands over his face.
Victor turned on him.
"Look at me."
Adrian did not move.
"Look at me."
He finally lifted his head.
"What did you give her access to?"
"Nothing important."
Victor's anger sharpened.
"There is no harmless access when someone is stealing from you."
Adrian's voice cracked.
"She asked for my tablet sometimes."
"Password?"
Adrian hesitated.
Claire closed her eyes.
"Adrian."
"She knew it."
Victor stared at his son.
"The foundation portal?"
"I don't know."
"Your board files?"
"Maybe."
"My estate documents?"
Adrian stood.
"I said I don't know!"
Victor stepped toward him.
"Then start knowing."
Silence followed.
Tessa whispered, "There was one more thing in the ledger."
Everyone looked at her.
"A payment marked V.H."
Victor frowned.
"Victor Hale?"
"I thought so at first."
Tessa shook her head.
"Then I saw the recipient."
Claire waited.
"Vale Holdings."
Owen Vale.
Victor's face changed.
"How much?"
"Two hundred fifty thousand dollars."
"For what?"
Tessa looked at Claire.
"The note beside it said: Remove the daughter before signing."
Claire felt the room turn cold.
Adrian slowly stood.
"Remove?"
May you like
Tessa nodded.
"I don't think Celeste only wanted Claire embarrassed today."
