Chapter 4 - THE INVITATION
The gala invitation arrived by courier.
Heavy cream paper.
Gold lettering.
Vale Foundation Annual Courage Awards.
I almost laughed at the word courage.
My name was printed beside a handwritten note.
Claire,
I hear your company may be interested in expanding its partnership with us.
Let’s talk privately at the gala.
—Preston
He knew.
Maybe not everything.
Enough.
Dad wanted me to decline.
“I can send investigators.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“If he thinks I’m afraid, he changes strategy.”
“He may already know who Naomi is to you.”
“Then staying home doesn’t make her safer.”
We contacted state investigators through an attorney who had represented two of the women.
They listened.
They did not promise arrests.
The evidence needed authentication.
Chain of custody.
Original sources.
Corroboration.
We could give them that.
The gala became the opportunity because Tessa believed Martin kept an encrypted archive on a private server inside Vale House.
“You want to search the estate?” Dad asked.
“No. Police do.”
“They need probable cause.”
“I’m working on that.”
Preston helped.
Two days before the event, he called me.
“Claire Arden.”
His voice was smooth.
“Preston Vale.”
“I’m glad you’re coming.”
“Are you?”
“I like meeting people who investigate me.”
My hand tightened around the phone.
“So you know.”
“I know you’ve been talking to unhappy former employees.”
“Interesting description.”
“They’re liars.”
“All eleven?”
Silence.
Then he laughed.
“You’re brave.”
“No.”
“What then?”
“Prepared.”
He lowered his voice.
“You should be careful with women who sell stories. Sometimes they drag good people down with them.”
“Is that a threat?”
“It’s advice.”
“Then I’ll give you some.”
“Go ahead.”
“Don’t touch me.”
Another silence.
Then he said, “See you Saturday.”
He hung up.
Dad had recorded the call through our legal counsel’s approved process.
Not enough for a case.
Enough to show intent.
On gala night, I wore a black dress with long sleeves.
No diamonds.
No heels I could not run in.
Inside my clutch: phone, backup battery, panic trigger, and a tiny encrypted drive.
Dad adjusted my earpiece in the car.
“You say the phrase only if you are sure.”
“I know.”
“Once the barriers drop, people panic.”
“I know.”
“Police will already be nearby.”
“I know.”
He looked at me.
“You sound like your mother.”
That almost broke me.
Instead, I kissed his cheek.
Then I walked into Vale House.
Preston was waiting at the top of the stairs.
Beside him stood Martin Vale.
Martin smiled at me.
“Ms. Arden. We’ve been expecting you.”
May you like
The way he said it made one thing immediately clear.
Preston was not the only Vale who knew why I was there.
