Chapter 46 - Claire Announces She Is Leaving
The press conference shocked Providence.
Claire stood behind a simple podium.
Evan beside her.
Hotel executives behind them.
The center’s temporary offices visible through glass doors.
She read from prepared notes.
“For ten years, my professional life has repeatedly intersected with painful events involving people close to me.”
Reporters listened.
“Recent allegations, regardless of their ultimate source, have created instability for employees, clients, and families who deserve better.”
Evan kept his expression neutral.
Only he knew the truth.
“So effective at the end of this week, I will step away from daily management of the Providence Riverfront Hotel.”
Chaos.
Questions flew.
Claire continued.
“I will also temporarily suspend my executive role at the Holloway Center.”
More shouting.
“Are you admitting responsibility?”
“No.”
“Did the board force you out?”
“No.”
“Is Sloane taking control?”
Claire smiled faintly.
“Operational transition details will be announced Friday.”
That was the bait.
Malcolm called twenty minutes later.
“You finally made the rational choice.”
Claire sat in her office.
“I’m tired.”
He softened.
“You should be.”
“I want this finished.”
“It can be.”
“Forty million still available?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
“Restore the homeowners first.”
“Done.”
“Written guarantee.”
“Yes.”
“Patricia’s deed.”
“Already corrected.”
“Grant?”
“I can help Denver understand his limited role.”
Claire nearly admired the arrogance.
He believed he controlled governments now.
“And Arthur?” she asked.
Silence.
“What about him?”
“He scares me.”
Another pause.
“Arthur is unstable.”
There.
Claire let fear enter her voice.
Not difficult.
“Can you control him?”
“No.”
Honest.
Finally.
“Then help me stop him.”
Malcolm’s breathing changed.
“What are you asking?”
“Meeting. You and me.”
“Where?”
“The center.”
“It burned.”
“Exactly.”
She hung up.
Luis looked through the glass wall.
“He bought it?”
“Yes.”
Evan crossed his arms.
“Or he wants you to think he bought it.”
“Also possible.”
Federal investigators wired the damaged center.
Hidden cameras.
Audio.
Adjacent surveillance.
No theatrical warehouse this time.
Claire had learned.
Malcolm arrived at nine that night.
He looked around the blackened lobby.
“You chose this for drama.”
“I chose it because Arthur believes it destroyed me.”
Malcolm watched her.
“You’re not resigning.”
“No.”
He laughed softly.
“I should have known.”
“Yes.”
Claire placed copies of the evidence on a burned table.
“Trevor Pike is cooperating.”
Malcolm’s face tightened.
“Charles is cooperating.”
Worse.
“Celeste is cooperating.”
He swore.
“Grant?”
“Very motivated.”
Malcolm paced.
“You don’t understand Arthur.”
“Then explain him.”
“He lost everything.”
“So did Grant.”
“Grant wanted to rebuild.”
“And Arthur?”
“He wanted repayment.”
“For what?”
“Humiliation.”
Malcolm laughed bitterly.
“He thinks you orchestrated his conviction.”
“I didn’t.”
“Doesn’t matter.”
Claire stepped closer.
“Did he set this fire?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you authorize forged deeds?”
“No.”
“Did you fund Harbor Crest?”
“Yes.”
“Did you know homeowners were being deceived?”
Malcolm looked away.
That was enough morally.
Not legally.
Claire waited.
Finally:
“I knew they were being told incomplete information.”
“Fraud.”
“I told Arthur no forged documents.”
Claire’s pulse jumped.
There.
“Say that again.”
Malcolm realized too late.
His face changed.
“You’re recording me.”
Claire did not answer.
He backed away.
“You set me up.”
“No.”
She looked around the burned room.
“You set yourself up months ago.”
Suddenly a sound came from the hallway.
Metal.
A door closing.
Malcolm froze.
Claire saw genuine terror.
“Arthur.”
The lights went out.
Not again.
Claire heard Evan shout from outside.
Then glass shattered.
A figure moved through the darkness.
Federal agents entered from two sides.
Flashlights cut across smoke-stained walls.
Nobody found Arthur.
But they found something else.
On the burned reception desk sat a phone.
Its screen glowed.
A message:
FRIDAY. WILLOWMERE LANE.
Claire stared.
The old house.
The beginning.
Arthur wanted to end the story where it started.
Evan read the message.
“No.”
Claire looked at him.
“No what?”
“We are not going.”
She nodded.
“Agreed.”
He blinked.
“That easy?”
“Yes.”
Claire picked up the phone carefully.
“Arthur wants theater.”
May you like
She smiled coldly.
“So we deny him the stage.”
