Victims in the Room

Working for the victims sounded noble until the victims arrived.

They came to Westport by noon because Mara's leak had given them names, folders, and anger with no place to sit. Widows. Adult children. Former caregivers. A retired teacher whose brother's policy had paid a foundation he had never heard of. Greta stood at the front of the police community room like a general in orthopedic shoes.

Elise faced them with Roslyn on one side and Theo on the other.

"I do not control the money yet," Elise said. "I do not control HartLine. I do not control the court."

A man in the second row said, "Then why are you talking?"

"Because Vivian Hart used my name to lock the account. Martin Vale used your dead to fill it. Silas Greer wants to contain it. I want every file matched to the person it hurt."

"Want is cheap," the man said.

Greta turned. "So is heckling. Let her finish."

Elise continued. "We will build a claim table. Original beneficiary, changed beneficiary, policy source, payout path, proof status. You will see your file. You will have counsel. No sealed private settlement without victim review."

The room shifted. Not trust. Attention.

A woman in a red sweater stood. "Your mother knew."

"Yes," Elise said.

"And you still want her company."

"No. I want the records."

The woman sat down slowly.

Theo placed a stack of intake forms on the table. "Do not put original documents here. Copies only. Roslyn will explain evidence handling."

Roslyn looked annoyed at being volunteered, then explained it better than anyone.

In the back, Claire watched with June and Ruby. June had a bandage on her lip and a notebook open. Ruby pointed to a line. Claire nodded. They were not healed. They were working on the same page, which was stranger.

Adam entered late, carrying three boxes of his own records.

The angry man in the second row looked at him. "Are you here to confess?"

Adam swallowed.

"Yes," he said. "In order."