DON’T MOVE ON HIM YET.

I NEED SOURCE RECORDS.

Dominic reply:

GET THEM.

Three days later:

Ethan:

SOMEBODY ACCESSED CLAIRE’S DENTAL OFFICE EMPLOYMENT FILE.

IF THAT WAS YOU, STOP.

Dominic:

NOT ME.

WHO KNOWS ABOUT HER?

Ethan:

TOO MANY NOW.

Claire’s skin went cold.

Someone had looked her up before Ethan died.

Renato?

Maybe.

Then Ethan wrote:

I’M MOVING HER OUT OF CITY AFTER BABY.

He had never told Claire.

Again.

Protection by planning for her.

She felt angry at dead man.

Good.

Dana said:

“You can love him and be angry.”

Claire nodded.

Then final email from Ethan to Dominic, twelve hours before death:

I WAS WRONG ABOUT THE MONEY.

IT ISN’T JUST SKIM.

RENATO IS USING COLLECTION ACCOUNTS TO PAY SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE.

DO NOT CALL ME.

DO NOT SEND HIM.

I’LL BRING PROOF TOMORROW.

Dominic replied one hour later:

YOU HAVE UNTIL MORNING.

THEN I BRING YOU IN.

Claire stared.

“He threatened him.”

Dana said:

“Yes.”

No sugarcoat.

Not death threat.

Still.

Then Ethan sent photograph to Dominic next day? Actually gave photo night before death maybe perhaps at earlier meeting. Need continuity: Dominic said Ethan gave photo night before he died. But email says do not call, maybe photo via courier? Let's say he had given the photograph at a prior meeting the night before this email? Wait "night before he died" yes, then email 12 hours before death after meeting? He could have slipped photo onto Dominic's desk at 1am meeting. Let's not complicate.

Dana opened one more document.

Estate security log.

At 6:14 p.m. on January 9, Ethan entered Dominic’s Chicago townhouse? Wait Dominic estate Lake Forest maybe. Could have met at city club. Let's use Valenti office. Log:

ETHAN WARD - 6:14 PM

EXIT - 6:31 PM

Dominic had met him hours before crash.

Claire’s heart pounded.

But Dominic had told her Ethan gave photograph night before he died. Actually now file shows same day. In opening chapter Dominic said "night before he died." We need avoid contradiction. Could say security timestamp was from previous day? January 8 at 6:14. Let's set January 8. Fine.

The meeting note written by Dominic himself:

WARD CLAIMS EVIDENCE COMPROMISED.

SAYS CORSI HAS INSIDE HELP.

REFUSES TO NAME SOURCE.

GAVE PERSONAL PHOTO “IF SOMETHING HAPPENS.”

I TOLD HIM THIS LOOKS LIKE PERFORMANCE.

Claire stopped.

Performance.

Ethan had tried.

Dominic had dismissed.

She felt rage at a man she barely knew and grief for one she thought she had known.

Dana said:

“You don’t need to decide what Dominic is today.”

Good.

Claire looked at Sophie’s photo on phone.

“Did Ethan know he was going to die?”

“Maybe he knew he was in danger.”

That was all.

At nine, Dominic received a call from Paolo Serra.

“Renato knows.”

“Knows what?”

“That outside forensic team reopened Ward.”

“How?”

“He called me.”

Dominic’s face went cold.

“What did he say?”

“That you’re letting a maid turn your head.”

Dominic stood.

Paolo continued:

“He wants meeting.”

“No.”

“Dom.”

“No private meeting.”

Good.

“Through counsel.”

Paolo hesitated.

“You think he killed Ward.”

“I think I spent four years not knowing.”

“Same thing?”

“No.”

Good.

Dominic looked at current missing accountant case.

The accountant:

Mila Grant.

Thirty-four.

Forensic controller.

She disappeared Monday after flagging $2.3 million in Renato-linked transfers.

Her car was found at O’Hare.

Passport unused.

Phone off.

Could be hiding.

Could be taken.

Dominic called Mara.

“We need law enforcement on Grant.”

“Already recommended.”

“Do it.”

“And your own records?”

“All.”

“Even illegal collections connected?”

Dominic stopped.

This was the real test.

Renato’s theft ran through criminal books.

Turning them over exposed Dominic too.

Mara waited.

“Yes,” he said.

Good.

“Preserve and disclose through negotiated process.”

He sat.

Then:

“Claire needs security.”

Mara looked at him.

“Ask her lawyer.”

Of course.

Dana called Claire at 9:40.

“Dominic’s counsel says the man under review has commented on you. They recommend security.”

Claire closed eyes.

Not again.

“Police?”

“Counsel has contacted authorities. They can also arrange protective measures.”

“Valenti men?”

“Only if you consent.”

Claire looked at apartment door.

Sophie asleep in bedroom.

“What are options?”

Good.

Not refusal from pride.

Dana listed:

temporary hotel under her own name but coordinated with police.

building patrol.

Valenti security at distance.

staying with family.

Claire had no family nearby.

She chose:

hotel through Dana, paid initially by emergency legal fund subject to reimbursement claim.

Not Dominic’s house.

Good.

Sophie woke while Claire packed.

“Trip?”

“For a few nights.”

“Mr. Dominic?”

“No.”

“Five minutes?”

Claire sat on bed.

“Not now.”

Sophie frowned.

“Is he bad?”

Claire’s heart tightened.

“He has done bad things.”

“Did he hurt Daddy?”

Claire froze.

Children hear.

Maybe Claire had been on phone in kitchen.

She answered carefully.

“He made a decision that made things more dangerous for Daddy.”

Sophie looked at rabbit.

“Did he say sorry?”

“Not yet in the way that matters.”

Good.

Sophie nodded.

Then:

“Can people get better?”

Claire thought.

“Sometimes they make better choices.”

“Same?”

“Not exactly.”

Sophie accepted.

She hugged Mr. Buttons.

Claire zipped suitcase.

Four years after Ethan died, his daughter was sleeping in another hotel because men who had lied about him might still be dangerous.

Claire refused to call that fate.

It was consequence.

And consequences could be documented.