Containment

Greer called Elise before police called him.

The number was private. The voice was warm. That made Elise trust it less than threats.

"Ms. Hart," he said, "you and I have never met, which is fortunate. It allows us to be practical."

Theo pointed to the recorder. Elise tapped speaker.

"Practical about what?" she asked.

"Restitution. Your mother's public confession has stirred people who do not understand finance, grief, or limitation. If every family sues at once, they will receive pennies after lawyers finish feeding."

"So you want to help them?"

"I want to prevent waste."

Greta, seated across the table, mouthed an ugly word.

Greer continued. "You are uniquely positioned. If you accept interim control and appoint a receiver acceptable to my office, I can fund a settlement pool by tomorrow."

"Your office?"

"My advisers."

"The same advisers who collect Adam's debt?"

Silence sharpened.

"Adam Hart is not a serious person," Greer said. "Do not let his weakness guide you."

"What guides you?"

"Containment."

There it was. Not justice. Not mercy. Containment.

Elise looked at Roslyn. Roslyn nodded for her to keep him talking.

"If I say no?"

Greer's voice cooled by one degree. "Then the story widens. June's adoption. Claire's forgery. Theo Crane's bank failures. Your own consulting contract. Vivian's role. There will be no heroine by the end, only defendants."

Elise thought of Vivian's sentence: Give her motive bigger than money.

"You are scared," Elise said.

Greer laughed softly. "No, Ms. Hart. I am expensive to fight."

The call ended.

Greta leaned forward. "I want him named."

"He will be," Roslyn said.

"Not in a sealed room."

Elise looked at the public leak, the admissible files, and the people Greer was willing to grind into footnotes.

"Then we make the next room public," she said.

Theo frowned. "What next room?"

Elise pointed to the foundation calendar.

Greer's donor dinner was tonight.