Chapter 18 - Celeste’s Bargain
Celeste chose a church.
Not a restaurant.
Not a lawyer’s office.
A nearly empty Episcopal church outside Newport.
Claire arrived with Evan despite Celeste’s demand that he stay away.
When Celeste saw him, she nearly ran.
Evan did not move toward her.
“Sit down.”
His voice was quiet.
Celeste sat.
She looked nothing like the woman Claire remembered from Willowmere Lane.
No designer dress.
No diamonds.
No perfect hair.
She wore jeans, a gray sweater, and fear.
Claire sat one pew behind her.
“Where’s the box?”
“Safe.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
“I need protection.”
“From whom?”
“Vale’s people.”
“He’s arrested.”
“He still has people.”
Evan laughed bitterly.
“You disappear for over a year, come back helping criminals, and now you want us to protect you?”
Celeste turned.
“I didn’t know Cross would hurt Samuel.”
“You never know anything until somebody gets hurt.”
The words landed hard.
Celeste lowered her eyes.
Claire intervened.
“How did you get involved?”
“Grant called me.”
Evan closed his eyes.
Celeste continued quickly.
“He said Claire stole everything from both of us.”
“No,” Evan said. “You stole from me.”
Celeste flinched.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
She began crying.
“I know every month when half my paycheck goes into restitution. I know every morning when I wake up alone. I know when I see photographs of you standing beside Claire looking happier than you ever looked with me.”
Evan’s face hardened.
“Do not make your consequences sound like victimhood.”
Celeste nodded.
“You’re right.”
Claire studied her.
“What did Grant ask?”
“To help Vale recover documents.”
“Why you?”
“I knew the hotel.”
“You’d never been inside after renovation.”
“I had design contacts.”
Claire understood.
“Samuel.”
Celeste nodded.
“He trusted a former interior designer when I asked about storage rooms.”
“You manipulated him.”
“Yes.”
“And Cross kidnapped him.”
“I didn’t know that would happen.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I panicked.”
Celeste reached into her bag.
Evan tensed.
She removed a brass key.
“Cross told me to retrieve Box P-14 from Samuel’s truck after he took him.”
“Where is the box?”
“Storage unit in Pawtucket.”
Claire stood.
“Take us.”
“No.”
Celeste looked at Evan.
“I need one thing first.”
He almost laughed.
“You think you’re negotiating?”
“I want your statement supporting reduced restitution.”
Evan stared at her.
“No.”
Celeste’s face collapsed.
“Evan—”
“No.”
“I can’t live like this forever.”
“You robbed my company.”
“I know.”
“You funded the man sleeping with my wife.”
Tears rolled down her face.
“I know.”
“I nearly lost my employees’ retirement accounts.”
“I know.”
“Then stop asking me to erase consequences.”
Silence filled the church.
Claire expected Celeste to leave.
Instead she nodded.
“Okay.”
She placed the brass key in Evan’s hand.
“No deal.”
Evan stared.
Celeste wiped her face.
“I had to ask.”
They went to the storage facility with federal agents.
Box P-14 sat beneath a tarp.
The original partnership release was inside.
Richard Vale’s signature surrendered all ownership rights to the Providence property in exchange for protection from several partnership debts.
The hotel was legally Claire’s.
Forever.
Then they found the letter.
It was addressed to Richard Vale.
Richard—
I know Cross has been paying officials through Northstar. I know you discovered it before I did. I know you covered it up because exposing him would expose us.
We built something rotten and called it success.
I’m done.
If you sign the release, I will assume the Providence debt and give the Northstar evidence to prosecutors without naming your family’s separate assets.
If you refuse, everything goes public.
—Thomas
Claire read it twice.
Her father had not been blackmailed by Vale.
He had blackmailed Vale into helping him leave Northstar.
Not noble.
Not clean.
But moving toward something better.
Evan stood beside Claire.
“You okay?”
“I don’t know.”
Celeste remained near the storage door.
Claire looked at her.
“You should testify.”
Celeste nodded.
“I will.”
“You could be charged.”
“I know.”
Evan looked at her for a long moment.
Then he said something Claire did not expect.
“Tell the truth.”
Celeste’s mouth trembled.
“I’m trying.”
“No.”
Evan’s voice softened slightly.
“Stop trying. Just do it.”
Celeste began crying again.
May you like
This time neither Claire nor Evan comforted her.
Some roads toward redemption had to be walked alone.
