Chapter 7 - The Second Red Folder
Claire had always made copies.
Grant knew that now.
The first red folder, Lily said, disappeared after Simon visited.
The second was hidden "where Mommy could hear music."
Emma searched the piano bench.
Nothing.
Grant checked the old stereo cabinet.
Nothing.
Lily shook her head.
Then she walked to the nursery.
Claire had installed a small wind-up music box beside Lily's crib years ago.
Grant lifted it.
Too heavy.
A panel underneath slid open.
Inside was a memory card and three folded documents.
The first was a draft petition to remove Grant as future controller of Lily's trust if he married Renata Cole.
Grant stared.
"Claire was trying to protect Lily from my marriage."
Emma said softly, "She was trying to protect both of you."
The second document was a list of unauthorized wire transfers from the Claire Callahan Foundation.
The receiving company was Hale Advisory Group.
Simon Hale.
The third page was a handwritten timeline.
At the bottom Claire had written:
RENATA + SIMON ARE NOT WORKING ALONE.
Grant looked at the memory card.
Ruiz loaded it onto an offline laptop.
A video appeared.
Claire sat in the nursery, exhausted.
"Grant, if you ever see this, please don't waste time hating yourself. I need you thinking clearly."
Grant looked away.
Claire continued.
"Simon has been moving foundation money. Renata learned about it because she worked for him before she met us. I think they planned to use me as the unstable wife, then use Lily's trust after I was gone."
Ruiz paused.
"Worked for him?"
Grant shook his head.
"Renata told me she met Simon through me."
The video resumed.
Claire said, "There is a third person. Someone inside Grant's family office. I haven't found the name yet."
Then a sound came from behind Claire on the recording.
A man's voice.
"Claire?"
The video ended.
Grant went pale.
Emma asked, "Who was that?"
Grant stared at the black screen.
"My brother."
Lily watched the old video twice. On the second viewing, she did not hide behind Emma.
"Mom looks tired," she whispered.
Grant swallowed. "She was trying very hard."
Lily touched the screen.
"Was she brave?"
"Yes."
"Was she scared?"
Grant nodded.
May you like
Lily considered that. "You can be both."
No one in the room corrected her.
