The First Restitution Meeting

The first restitution meeting took place in HartLine's conference room, under Vivian's harbor view and no roses.

Elise removed them herself. Greta approved.

The receiver sat at the head of the table because court orders enjoyed chairs. Elise sat beside her with the claim table, victim files, Theo's banking map, Adam's vendor ledger, and Roslyn's evidence references. Claire sat in the back with June. Ruby sat near the door until June moved a chair beside her.

The first file was Robert Sloane.

Greta did not cry when Elise read the corrected beneficiary path. She only pressed one palm flat to the table and said, "Again. Slower."

Elise read it again.

Original beneficiary: Greta Sloane.

Unauthorized change: Hart Vale Foundation.

Linked debt route: Mercer Private Funding.

Recommended action: restore proceeds with interest, refer signatures for criminal proceeding, preserve right to civil damages.

Greta closed her eyes. "Robert would have said interest was rude and taken it anyway."

A small laugh moved around the table. It was not joy. It was air returning.

They worked through six files before evening. Six out of twenty-eight. The work was slow because each row had a person under it, and Elise refused to let speed become another theft.

After everyone left, Claire lingered.

"June wants Ruby at dinner," she said.

"How do you feel about that?"

"Like I am being punished and rescued by the same invitation."

Elise nodded. "Sounds like dinner."

Claire touched the back of a chair. "Will you come?"

Elise almost said no. Family dinner in the middle of criminal collapse sounded like a trap with napkins.

Then June poked her head in. "Greta is coming too. She says all families need one mean widow."

Elise looked at the empty table, Vivian's office, the living people waiting badly outside it.

"Fine," she said. "But no one signs anything."

June smiled.

For once, the next room did not feel like evidence.