Vivian's Warning

Claire denied visiting Ruby Bell until Roslyn showed her the hospice log.

Then she sat at her kitchen island and folded.

June had been sent upstairs, which meant June was probably listening from the landing. Elise did not stop her. Children in the Hart family learned truth by eavesdropping because adults rationed it like medicine.

"I went because Martin asked me," Claire said.

Roslyn placed the log between them. "Try again."

Claire's house was all pale stone and quiet appliances. It made Elise angry on a practical level. Claire had drawers that closed themselves. Elise had a kitchen faucet that screamed.

"Ruby called me," Claire said. "She said she had been promised money from the foundation. She said she was scared."

"Of Martin?" Elise asked.

"Of Vivian."

That landed wrong.

Claire looked at Elise. "Mother recruited her. Not Martin. Ruby said Vivian gave her your old passport copy and told her she could help expose a crime."

"That makes no sense."

"It sounds exactly like Mother," Adam said from the doorway.

No one had invited him in. He came anyway, lip swollen, shame trailing behind him.

Claire pointed at him. "You do not get to judge from the hall."

"I came because Martin is calling everyone."

"Let him."

"He knows Elise has the file."

Elise's skin tightened. "How?"

Adam looked at Theo.

Theo checked his tablet, then swore. "My evidence folder had an external access attempt."

Roslyn stood. "From where?"

"Westport Bank internal credentials."

Elise understood before Theo said it. "Your login?"

He stared at the screen. "Yes."

Claire gave a bitter laugh. "Now everyone looks guilty."

From upstairs, June shouted, "Mom!"

Elise ran first.

June stood in her bedroom holding the cracked blue phone. A new video file had unlocked by itself.

Vivian appeared on the screen, looking straight into the camera.

"Elise," Vivian said, "if you are watching this, do not trust Theo Crane."