The Blue Phone

Elise reached June's school before Claire did because fear made her drive like a younger version of herself.

Westport Academy looked carved out of tuition money: brick archways, trimmed hedges, banners about character. A security guard tried to stop Elise at the entrance. Theo stepped in with his bank badge and a lie about student account verification.

"That was smooth," Elise said.

"It was ugly. Move."

They found June outside the music wing with a backpack clutched to her chest. She had Claire's dark hair and Vivian's flat stare.

"Where is Martin?" Elise asked.

"He said he wanted to drive me to lunch."

"Did you go?"

June gave her a look. "I'm sixteen, not stupid."

Elise almost smiled. Then she saw the red mark on June's wrist where someone had grabbed too hard.

Theo saw it too. His face closed.

"What did you take from Vivian's study?" Elise asked.

June's eyes moved to Theo.

"He's helping me."

"People helping you keep making you poorer and deader," June said.

"Fair."

June opened her backpack and pulled out an old phone in a cracked blue case. "Grandma gave me this two days before the crash. She said if something happened, I should not give it to Mom, Granddad, or Uncle Adam."

"Why give it to you?" Theo asked.

"Because adults search adults."

Elise took the phone. It had one video on it.

The image shook at first, then steadied behind the half-open door of Vivian's study. Vivian stood by her desk, alive and furious. Martin faced her with both hands flat on the blotter.

"If Elise gets control, she will find every policy," Vivian said on the video.

Martin's voice was calm. "Then Elise cannot get control."

Vivian smiled in a way Elise had never seen. "You would have to make her dead too."

The video ended there.

June whispered, "There is another file, but it needs Grandma's password."

Behind them, the school intercom chimed.

"June Vale, please report to the front office. Your grandfather is waiting."