Chapter 8 - The Threat
Mara’s blood turned cold.
“Who is this?”
The call ended.
Julian saw her face.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
It came out too fast.
Celeste watched her carefully.
Mara slipped the phone into her pocket.
Julian held out his hand.
“Let me see.”
“No.”
“Mara.”
“My sister has nothing to do with this.”
That was all she had to say.
Julian understood.
“Someone threatened her?”
Celeste scoffed. “How dramatic.”
Mara turned on her.
“You know her name?”
Celeste blinked.
Julian’s gaze sharpened.
Celeste recovered. “You mentioned a sister earlier.”
“No, I didn’t.”
The room went silent.
Mara took one step toward her.
“You knew Nora’s tuition was due. That’s why you knew I’d wear the scarf. That’s why you knew I couldn’t risk getting fired.”
Celeste’s mouth tightened.
Julian asked, “How did you know about Nora?”
“I told you. I had her investigated.”
Mara’s hands curled into fists.
“You investigated my nineteen-year-old sister because you recognized me?”
Celeste did not answer.
Julian took Mara’s phone gently but firmly and handed it to his attorney.
“Preserve the call log.”
Mara shook her head. “No police around Nora.”
“If someone threatened her, she needs protection.”
“She needs a normal life.”
“So did you,” Julian said.
The words stopped her.
He continued quietly. “And someone took that from you eleven years ago.”
Celeste’s laugh was brittle.
“You’re taking her side because of one old memory.”
Julian looked at her.
“I’m taking the side of facts.”
He pointed at the monitor. “The facts show you in the staff closet. The facts show a payment to security. The facts show your necklace clasp in your bathroom trash.”
Celeste stepped closer to him.
“Then arrest me.”
Julian said nothing.
She smiled through wet eyes.
“You won’t. Because if the police start asking questions, they’ll ask about the crash. And if they ask about the crash, they’ll ask why your family paid my father six million dollars three weeks later.”
Rachel’s head snapped up.
“What?”
Julian stared at Celeste.
Mara forgot to breathe.
May you like
Celeste’s smile widened.
“There it is,” she whispered. “The part your precious cameras never showed you.”
