Chapter 2 - The Man at the Door
I showed Daniel the text.
He didn't ask who sent it.
He whispered, "Lock the door."
Richard heard him. "Why?"
Daniel finally looked at all of us. "Because Victor doesn't make threats he can't back up."
Evelyn snapped, "Stop talking."
Daniel turned on her. "No. You stop."
It was the first time all night his voice had any spine in it.
Too late for me, but not too late for the truth.
Richard walked to the front window and pulled the curtain aside. The sedan was still there.
Eric took out his phone. "I'm calling the cops."
Evelyn grabbed his wrist. "Don't you dare."
Richard stared at her hand until she let go.
"Call," he said.
A knock hit the front door.
Three slow taps.
Everyone froze.
Then Victor called through the wood.
"Richard? It's me. We need to discuss a business emergency."
Evelyn actually backed away.
I had never seen her back away from anything.
Richard opened the door but kept the chain latched.
Victor Hale was in his late fifties, silver hair, expensive coat, calm eyes. The kind of man who looked like he belonged at a bank board meeting, not outside a family house after midnight.
His gaze moved past Richard and landed on me.
He smiled.
"Claire. Rough evening?"
My split lip throbbed.
"You tell me."
The smile stayed. His eyes didn't.
Richard said, "Why is your voice on her phone?"
Victor sighed like we'd disappointed him. "Deepfake software is cheap now. Anyone can manufacture audio."
"Funny," I said. "Evelyn used the same excuse. You two rehearse that?"
Evelyn hissed my name.
Victor's face hardened for half a second.
That was enough.
Police sirens sounded in the distance.
Victor glanced toward the street.
Then he leaned closer to the crack in the door and spoke quietly.
"Daniel, if they come inside, the Bellhaven account becomes their problem."
Daniel staggered backward.
Richard's head snapped toward him. "What is the Bellhaven account?"
Daniel said nothing.
Victor smiled again.
"Ask your son why his electronic signature approved two hundred forty thousand dollars in transfers."
Richard went still.
Daniel looked at me.
"Claire, I can explain."
I stepped away from him.
The sirens got louder.
Victor turned to leave, but before he did, he looked straight at me.
"Play your little recording for the police," he said. "Then ask them who the paperwork says stole the money."
He walked toward the dark sedan.
And Daniel whispered the sentence that shattered what was left of our marriage.
"The paperwork says me."
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