Chapter 12 - The Marina
Police reached the marina as a forty-foot motor yacht was pulling away.
Victor Hale was at the controls.
Olivia stood behind him.
The Coast Guard intercepted them fifteen minutes later.
Clara watched from shore as officers brought Olivia back in handcuffs.
Her hair was perfect.
Her face was not.
She looked furious, humiliated, and older.
When she saw Clara, she stopped walking.
"You think this ends with me?"
Clara said nothing.
Olivia turned toward Ethan. "Tell her."
Ethan's face tightened.
"Tell me what?" Clara asked.
Olivia laughed. "He still hasn't told you the best part."
An officer urged her forward.
She twisted back.
"Ask him who approved Victor's security budget. Ask him who signed the surveillance contract."
Clara looked at Ethan.
He closed his eyes.
"I did."
The words were barely audible.
"You hired him?"
"Three years ago. I didn't know what he was doing for Mom."
"But you gave him access."
"Yes."
Rachel stepped closer. "And he gave Victor permission to bypass my audit logs last year."
Ethan looked at her, stunned.
"That was for executive protection."
"That's what Victor told you," Rachel said.
Clara felt exhausted by how every lie had a smaller lie inside it.
A detective approached with a sealed evidence bag.
"We found this on Mr. Hale."
Inside was a tiny encrypted drive labeled B.
Rachel's expression changed.
"Backup."
"Of what?" Clara asked.
"Everything Victor collected. Calls. Cameras. Emails."
Martin said, "Can you open it?"
Rachel looked at Ethan.
"Probably. But if I'm right, this doesn't just contain evidence against Olivia."
Ethan's shoulders sank.
May you like
Clara understood.
It would contain him too.
