Chapter 16 - THE FALSE REPORTMaya was questioned by police after an anonymous complaint accused her of mistreating Noah months earlier.
Adrian knew immediately.
Celeste.
But accusation still had to be reviewed.
The complaint claimed Maya shook Noah and stole valuables from mansion.
No evidence.
Yet Maya was furious.
“She knows exactly what accusations do to caregivers.”
Rachel.
Tessa.
Sophie.
Same playbook.
This time authorities had pattern.
Security footage showed alleged date.
Maya spent most afternoon in kitchen with Audrey.
No shaking incident.
Inventory records showed no theft.
Complaint weakened quickly.
Then investigators traced anonymous submission through a service connected to Celeste’s former assistant.
The assistant, Jenna Price, panicked and cooperated.
Celeste had dictated complaint.
Jenna submitted.
“Why?”
“She said Maya was dangerous.”
“Did you believe?”
“At first.”
“Then?”
Jenna’s voice broke.
“I stopped believing a lot of things.”
She had worked for Celeste four years.
Handled casino travel disguised as charities.
Scheduled meetings with married men under aliases.
Delivered envelopes.
Never saw contents.
But she suspected.
Celeste told her:
“Never ask questions you don’t want answers to.”
Jenna stayed because salary high.
Then Celeste demanded fake complaint.
That crossed her line.
Too late, perhaps.
But she now had records.
Calendar entries.
Aliases.
Hotels.
Cash withdrawals.
One note:
C.W. — renewal
Charles Whitmore payment.
Another:
D.M. — final warning
Douglas Mercer.
Another:
A.V. — long-term
Adrian stared.
Long-term.
Not love.
Strategy.
Jenna cried.
“She did love you.”
Adrian looked at her.
“How do you know?”
“Because she stopped talking about other men after you.”
Then Jenna corrected herself.
“Except when she needed money.”
That sentence was worse.
Celeste may have loved Adrian in her own way.
And still used everyone else.
Love did not cure character.
Then Jenna revealed Celeste’s most infuriating habit.
After blackmail payments, she often bought lavish gifts for Adrian.
A watch.
A painting.
A rare bottle.
Adrian remembered each.
He thought generosity proved independence.
The money sometimes came from terrified married men.
He removed gifts from home.
Not destroyed.
Preserved as evidence if needed.
Then one gift to Noah.
A custom gold bracelet.
Paid three days after Charles’s second transfer.
Adrian stared at it.
He could not put it back on his son.
Celeste had used extortion money to perform maternal affection.
That made him angrier than the financial fraud.
Then Jenna said:
“She kept a list.”
“What list?”
“People who could hurt her.”
Names:
Maya.
Audrey.
Rachel.
Charles.
Gavin.
Elise.
Jenna.
And, eventually:
Adrian.
Next to Adrian’s name:
If he turns, use A.V.
Celeste had prepared to blackmail the man she planned to marry.
Not after breakup.
Before wedding.
Insurance.
May you like
She never trusted love.
Only leverage.
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