Chapter 9 - No Bargain
My answer was immediate.
"No."
Julian's attorney tried again.
"Mrs. Vance, your husband has information relevant to the federal investigation."
"Then he can give it to the FBI."
"He would like assurances regarding his daughter."
"My daughter."
"She is also Julian's child."
"Biologically, yes."
The lawyer paused.
I continued.
"That does not buy him a place in the NICU after he put her there."
"He regrets what happened."
"Wonderful."
"Clara."
"No."
I ended the call.
Ten minutes later, Julian called from another number.
I almost ignored it.
Then I remembered my father's note.
Trust no Vance.
Maybe my father had known something Julian could explain.
I answered.
"You have sixty seconds."
Julian breathed out.
"I didn't know Mom was going to destroy your father's company."
"Fifty-five."
"I knew she wanted his software."
"Fifty."
"I knew you were his daughter when we met."
That one still hurt.
"Forty-five."
"At first, I approached you because she told me to."
I closed my eyes.
"Forty."
"Then it became real."
"Thirty-five."
"Clara, I loved you."
"People who love someone don't punch them in the stomach."
Silence.
"Thirty."
"I lost control."
"Twenty-five."
"I'm sorry."
"Twenty."
"Mom is going to kill the case."
My eyes opened.
"How?"
"I don't know exactly."
"Then you're wasting my time."
"Wait."
His voice cracked.
"There's a judge."
Reed, sitting nearby, looked up.
I put the call on speaker.
"What judge?"
"Federal."
Reed stood.
Julian continued.
"I heard Mom arguing with Dad last year."
"Name."
"I never heard it."
"Then what good are you?"
"She called him Orchard."
Reed's expression changed.
"Orchard?"
"Yes."
"Anything else?"
Julian hesitated.
"He was supposed to make warrants disappear."
Reed was already typing.
"Why tell me?"
I asked.
"Because Mom is finished with me."
That sounded almost honest.
"She set me up."
I laughed once.
"You punched me, Julian."
"I know."
"She didn't move your fist."
"I know."
"Then stop trying to turn yourself into another victim."
Silence.
For once, he didn't argue.
Finally he said, "She told Chloe to provoke you."
"You already told us."
"No."
His voice lowered.
"Not just emotionally."
I felt my skin crawl.
"What does that mean?"
"She wanted you to hit Chloe first."
"Why?"
"So there would be witnesses saying you were unstable."
I looked toward Grace.
"And if I didn't?"
"I don't know."
"You do."
Another silence.
Then Julian whispered, "There was supposed to be something in your drink."
Reed froze.
"What?"
"I don't know what."
My stomach turned.
At the baby shower, Beatrice had personally handed me sparkling cider.
I hadn't drunk it.
Morning sickness had made anything sweet unbearable.
"What was it supposed to do?"
"Make you dizzy."
"That's what she told you?"
"Yes."
"Did you believe her?"
No answer.
I felt sick.
"Julian."
"She said it would make you emotional and confused."
"While eight months pregnant."
"I didn't think she would hurt the baby."
The rage I felt was almost peaceful.
"You didn't care enough to find out."
He started crying.
I felt nothing.
Reed motioned for me to keep him talking.
"Where did the drink come from?"
"Mom's private kitchen."
"Who prepared it?"
"I don't know."
"Who else knew?"
"Chloe."
Chloe had never mentioned a drink.
I looked at Reed.
She was already moving toward the door.
I spoke into the phone.
"Your sixty seconds are over."
"Clara, please let me see Grace."
"No."
"She's my daughter."
"Then you should have protected her."
I hung up.
Reed left to find Chloe.
She returned forty minutes later.
Her face told me something had gone wrong.
"Chloe is gone."
"What do you mean gone?"
"She left the hotel where we placed her."
"Why?"
"We don't know."
"Was she taken?"
"No signs of force."
My phone buzzed.
A photograph appeared from an unknown number.
Chloe stood beside a black SUV.
Behind her was Beatrice Vance.
May you like
Under the photograph was one sentence.
Bring me Daniel's key, or Chloe tells the world you fabricated everything.
