Chapter 15
The investigation widened.
Raymond had not only targeted us.
He had debts.
Other women.
Other forged signatures.
Two elderly clients from his “investment consulting” business had lost their savings.
A widow named Mrs. Alvarez came to Daniel’s office with a folder of letters.
Raymond had promised to protect her house.
Then he moved it into a shell company.
I sat beside Claire as Mrs. Alvarez cried.
Claire’s face went pale.
“He did this to her too?”
“Yes,” Daniel said.
Marlene’s name appeared on two referral payments.
Claire stood up and walked out.
I found her in the hallway.
“I can’t breathe,” she whispered.
I guided her to a bench.
“Slow. In. Out.”
She copied me.
Her hands shook.
“My mom helped him hurt people.”
“We don’t know how much she knew.”
“Don’t protect her.”
The words stopped me.
“I’m not trying to.”
“You are. A little.”
She was right.
Old habits are quiet.
“I’m sorry.”
She nodded, still crying.
“I need truth. Even if it hurts.”
“Okay.”
So I told her.
Marlene had known enough to be responsible.
Maybe not everything.
Enough.
Claire cried harder, but she did not break.
That afternoon, she gave a statement to investigators.
She admitted which signatures were hers and which were not.
She admitted she had believed Raymond.
She admitted she laughed when my suit was destroyed.
Her voice shook, but she kept going.
When it was over, she looked at me.
“Do you hate me?”
“No.”
“Are you angry?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
“I can live with angry.”
That was my brave girl.
At home, I worked on the suit again.
Claire sat beside me.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“If Ethan still wants to marry me someday, would you still walk me?”
My needle stopped.
“Yes.”
She wiped her face.
“Even after everything?”
“Claire, I learned to walk holding your hand. I can relearn the aisle.”
May you like
She leaned into my shoulder.
This time, repair held.
