Chapter 4 - Someone Took the Memory Card
The police arrived twelve minutes later.
By then, Adrian had stopped shouting.
That frightened Claire more than his anger had.
He stood near the windows with his attorney on speakerphone, expression flat, already rebuilding his defenses.
Lauren sat alone at a table.
Vanessa remained near the corridor, watched by venue security.
Evelyn cried quietly beside Nora.
Claire stood over the broken tablet.
“Who had access to the coatroom?”
The gala manager checked the entry log.
“Staff, security, and VIP guests.”
“That narrows it down to half the room,” Marcus said.
A detective named Elena Ruiz arrived with two officers.
She listened to the recordings, photographed the tablet, and separated the principal witnesses.
Claire hated losing sight of Eli, but Nora had taken him into a private room upstairs.
Ruiz spoke to Claire first.
“Your son says he recorded a conversation last night.”
Claire nodded.
“At our apartment?”
“Yes.”
“Where was he?”
“In the library alcove. He likes to read there.”
Ruiz made a note.
“And your husband knew he was home?”
Claire hesitated.
“He should have.”
Across the room, Adrian heard that.
“That’s ridiculous.”
Ruiz held up a hand.
“You’ll get your turn.”
Claire looked at Adrian.
Something else bothered her.
Last night, Adrian had told her he was meeting investors at the Harvard Club.
If he had been speaking with Vanessa and Lauren inside their home, then the lie had started before the gala.
Ruiz asked, “Why was your son recording them?”
Claire didn’t know.
That answer came from Eli.
Nora had returned with him.
Eli stood in the doorway holding a small blue notebook.
“Because Dad said Mom’s name.”
Claire crouched.
“What did you hear?”
Eli glanced toward Adrian.
“He said, ‘By tomorrow, Claire won’t control anything.’”
No one spoke.
Eli opened the notebook.
“I wrote it down because I thought maybe he was planning your anniversary surprise.”
Claire’s eyes burned.
Their anniversary was next week.
Eli turned the page.
There were times.
Fragments.
Names.
A child’s handwriting preserving the pieces of a conspiracy he could not understand.
11:42 - Dad says Lauren.
11:45 - Harbor.
11:48 - Board votes tonight.
11:51 - Vanessa asks about plane.
Claire froze.
“Plane?”
Marcus looked at her.
“You were scheduled to fly to Seattle tonight after the gala.”
She nodded.
A Bennett Aerospace prototype team was waiting for her.
Adrian had insisted she go personally.
Ruiz looked up from the notebook.
“Was Mr. Bennett supposed to join you?”
“No.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“This is becoming absurd.”
Ruiz’s gaze hardened.
“What was discussed about the plane?”
Eli’s small finger moved down the page.
“Dad said, ‘Once she’s in the air, Lauren files it.’”
Claire felt cold all over.
Marcus stared at Adrian.
“Files what?”
Adrian shook his head.
“I have no idea.”
Eli turned one more page.
At the bottom, he had written a sentence twice.
Because he had been scared enough to make sure he remembered it.
May you like
Vanessa: What if she never gets on the plane?
Dad: Then we use the other option.
