Chapter 17 - Roman Finally Lost His Temper
Roman did not shout often.
That was one of the things Claire loved about him.
His anger generally became quieter as it intensified.
That night, quiet disappeared.
“They used her brother’s debt to get into our security systems?”
Claire stood in their home office.
“Yes.”
“And someone entered this house.”
“Probably.”
“And photographed Lucy.”
“Yes.”
Roman turned away so sharply that the chair behind him rolled into the wall.
“This stops.”
Claire knew what he meant.
She also knew he could not promise it.
“How?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“That matters.”
He looked at her.
“I have people who can find Cross.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No private intimidation. No unofficial conversations. No old favors.”
“I didn’t say—”
“You didn’t have to.”
Roman laughed once, without humor.
“My daughter was photographed by someone who broke into our home.”
“Our daughter.”
His expression cracked.
Claire stepped closer.
“Our daughter,” she repeated.
He pressed both palms against the desk.
“I spent half my adult life making sure the worst parts of my family ended with me.”
“They did.”
“Did they?”
“Yes.”
“How can you say that when my first instinct is still to call people who don’t wear badges?”
“Because you didn’t call them.”
Roman looked at her.
Claire touched his face.
“Instinct isn’t character. Choice is.”
His eyes closed.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then he leaned his forehead against hers.
“I want to hurt somebody.”
“I know.”
“That’s not a very evolved thing to say.”
“No.”
“Does it scare you?”
“The fact that you said it to me instead of doing it?”
Claire shook her head.
“No.”
They stood together until his breathing slowed.
The next morning, the investigation accelerated.
Marisol surrendered her phone and emails voluntarily.
She described Daniel Cross’s intermediary, a man named Trevor Pike.
Police identified Pike as a private corporate investigator with a history of aggressive intelligence work.
His licenses were technically valid.
Some of his methods were not.
Security footage near Lucy’s school showed a vehicle registered to one of Pike’s companies.
The photograph had a source.
Not yet proof of who ordered it.
But a source.
Marisol expected Claire to fire her.
Claire did not decide immediately.
The board demanded termination.
Two directors argued that keeping Marisol endangered the nonprofit.
Elaine asked Claire what she wanted.
Claire hated the question.
Leadership sounded noble until somebody handed you another person’s future.
Marisol had betrayed them.
She had also been coerced.
Both things were true.
Claire met with her privately after counsel approved it.
“You gave them access.”
“Yes.”
“You could have come to me.”
“I was ashamed.”
“That doesn’t change what happened.”
“I know.”
“Do you understand that someone entered my home?”
Marisol cried silently.
“Yes.”
Claire’s anger returned.
“My daughter was threatened.”
“I know.”
“Stop saying you know. You didn’t see her ask why strangers know her school.”
Marisol flinched.
Claire stood and walked to the window.
She thought of herself years earlier, apologizing in hallways for needing help.
Shame made people stupid.
Fear made them secretive.
Neither erased consequences.
When Claire turned back, her decision had formed.
“You’re suspended pending the investigation.”
Marisol nodded.
“If counsel determines you can legally return, there will be conditions.”
Her head lifted.
“Return?”
“I didn’t say you’re returning. I said I’m not deciding your entire life while I’m angry.”
Marisol covered her face.
Claire continued.
“You cooperate fully. You complete security and ethics requirements. And if your brother needs legitimate debt counseling, we’ll connect him with services available to every employee family. Not because you gave them information. Because asking for help should have happened first.”
Marisol whispered, “Why?”
Claire almost laughed.
“Because I built this place around that exact idea.”
By afternoon, Mercer’s lawyers sent a cease-and-desist letter.
They accused Community Access Boston of making defamatory suggestions about Mercer Health.
Marissa read it and smiled.
Claire stared.
“Why are you happy?”
“Because they’re nervous.”
“Lawyers sending twelve-page threats looks nervous?”
“Very.”
Then her phone rang.
State investigators.
They wanted Claire to appear before an emergency procurement review panel in two days.
Mercer would be there.
North Harbor would be there.
The legitimacy of the eight-hundred-sixty-million-dollar state contract would be discussed publicly.
Claire hung up.
Roman stood in the doorway.
“What happened?”
May you like
She picked up her coat.
“I finally get to answer Graham Mercer where he can’t edit the video.”
