Chapter 13 - FIVE MISSING TRANSFERSOlivia Grant had undergone fertility treatment at the same clinic twelve years earlier.
That was why her records existed there.
The envelope Claire carried contained an old genetic profile.
Not a paternity test.
My attorney examined it.
“Why do you have this?”
Claire’s lips parted, but no answer came.
“Did your mother give it to you?”
“She wanted me to compare something.”
“What?”
Claire stared at the carpet.
I realized the answer before she spoke.
“My father.”
The room became still.
Claire’s mother had not only been alive.
She had spent years convincing Claire that the man who raised her was not her biological father.
Olivia believed Claire was entitled to money from another wealthy family.
That claim had failed.
Now mother and daughter had tried to build a new claim around my child.
A pattern.
Paternity used as a weapon.
Blood used as currency.
My attorney placed the profile into an evidence sleeve.
“Olivia Grant received four transfers through the Nevada company,” he said. “The fifth went to the document processor that created the false report.”
Claire looked at him sharply.
“I never authorized payments to my mother.”
“The transfers came from credentials linked to your laptop.”
“Ryan had access.”
“Ryan says you instructed him.”
“He’s protecting himself.”
“Then help us establish the truth.”
Claire crossed her arms.
“I want immunity.”
My attorney almost smiled.
“You are asking the wrong person.”
The five transfers formed a clear sequence.
The first paid Olivia’s debts.
The second purchased the Nevada shell company.
The third hired a private investigator to follow me.
The fourth covered a deposit on a house in Santa Barbara.
The fifth purchased forged medical and financial documents.
Every payment had been disguised as consulting expenses.
Claire had approved three.
Ryan had processed two.
Olivia had benefited from all five.
I looked at my wife.
“Was the Santa Barbara house for you and Ryan?”
“For the baby.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
Claire’s voice became quiet.
“I needed somewhere safe.”
“Safe from whom?”
“From you.”
I stared at her.
“Name one time I threatened you.”
“You control the money.”
“Financial disagreement is not physical danger.”
“You could make everyone believe you.”
“No, Claire. Evidence makes people believe.”
Her face tightened.
The sentence had struck the center of her fear.
Evidence.
The smart mirror.
The messages.
The transfers.
The forged report.
She could manipulate emotion.
She could not manipulate all of them at once.
My phone vibrated.
The security director had found a vehicle outside the rear gate.
A silver SUV registered to Olivia Grant.
She had been watching the mansion for three hours.
When police approached, the vehicle sped away.
May you like
But before disappearing, Olivia sent Claire one final message.
YOU KNOW WHAT DANIEL DID TEN YEARS AGO. USE IT.
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