Chapter 9 - Vivian’s Bargain
Vivian lay in a private hospital room wearing a paper gown and an expression of wounded royalty.
There were no serious injuries. A bruise at her wrist. Dust on her shoes. A small tear in the sleeve of the coat someone had given her.
Claire stood at the foot of the bed.
"You wanted me."
Vivian looked at Officer Nolan. "Alone."
"No," Claire said.
"Then you will lose forty-eight million dollars before sunrise."
"The transfer failed."
Vivian's eyes narrowed.
That was information she had not expected Claire to have.
"Failed temporarily."
"You said you know the code phrase."
"I do."
"Say it."
Vivian laughed softly.
"You always were impatient. That's what Samuel hated most."
Claire stepped closer.
"Do not use my father's name to make yourself feel powerful."
"Your father wasn't a saint."
"Neither are you."
For the first time, Vivian's smile vanished.
"Richard Vale is coming for you. He doesn't care about Ethan. He barely cares about me. The Bennett assets are the point. They always were."
"Then help the police stop him."
"And spend the rest of my life being prosecuted?"
"You attacked me with a golf club tonight. Your negotiating position is already weak."
Vivian's eyes flashed.
"You struck me too."
"After you struck me three times. On video."
Nolan remained silent, letting the two women talk.
Vivian lowered her voice.
"I can give you Vale."
"In exchange for what?"
"You tell the district attorney I acted under pressure. You support bail. And you do not pursue a civil claim against the Cole family."
Claire almost admired the nerve.
"What about Ethan?"
Something moved in Vivian's face.
Not love.
Calculation.
"Ethan made his own choices."
Claire understood then that even her son was expendable.
"Tell me the phrase."
"Promise first."
"No."
Vivian stared at her.
Claire stared back.
Finally, Vivian whispered, "Red winter roses."
Claire's heart kicked.
Those were the flowers Samuel used to grow in the greenhouse when Claire was a child.
It sounded exactly like something he would choose.
Martin, standing near the door, went pale.
"That's not the phrase," he said.
Vivian turned toward him.
"You don't know that."
"No," Martin said. "But I know Samuel. He would never use something sentimental. Not for security."
Vivian's mask slipped.
Claire saw panic.
Then Martin's phone buzzed.
He looked at the screen.
A new email had arrived from Samuel Bennett's long-deactivated private account.
May you like
The subject line read:
CLAIRE - IF VIVIAN SAYS RED WINTER ROSES, SHE IS LYING.
