Martin on the Screens

Greer did not run when Vivian's confession played.

He clapped.

Once. Twice. Slowly enough that the room followed in confusion before shame caught up.

"Powerful," he said. "A dead woman's remorse. We should honor it by protecting the victims from more spectacle."

He was good. Elise hated how good.

Greer turned toward the donors. "Tonight's event will fund an independent restitution review. No family member, no disgraced trustee, no angry claimant will control that process."

"You mean you will," Greta said.

"I mean professionals will."

Elise stepped into the open space. "Professionals like Mercer Private Funding?"

A murmur moved through the atrium.

Greer's smile held. "I own many companies."

"Including one that received money from disputed policy payouts, one that collected Adam's debt through foundation transfers, and one tied to Dane Lott, who tried to force us into a marina exchange."

"Allegations."

Roslyn spoke from behind Elise. "Documented enough for warrants."

That was not strictly for Greer. It was for the cameras.

Greer looked at Roslyn, then at Theo. "Mr. Crane, are you presenting bank records while terminated for misconduct?"

Theo's face did not move. "No. I am standing near them while law enforcement presents records obtained independently."

"Convenient."

"Yes," Theo said. "Fraud hates clean chain of custody."

June stood beside Ruby now. Claire noticed and absorbed the pain without trying to reclaim space. That was new.

A museum security guard approached Roslyn and whispered. Roslyn's expression tightened.

Elise knew bad news by the shape of shoulders.

"What?" she asked.

Roslyn leaned in. "Martin was transferred for arraignment thirty minutes ago. His transport never arrived."

Elise looked at Greer.

Greer's smile was still warm.

Then the atrium screens changed. Vivian's confession vanished. A live video appeared instead.

Martin sat in the back of a moving car, blood on his shirt, eyes bright.

"Elise," he said through the speakers, "you wanted the room public. Let us make it honest."