Chapter 7 - Claire Speaks
Dr. Patel arrived twenty minutes later through the same doorway that had carried in the truth. She was discreet, professional, and kind in the way good doctors are when they know fear has been sitting at the table longer than dinner.
Claire agreed to be examined privately in the sitting room with me present. The sling had been poorly adjusted. Her shoulder was bruised. Her wrist bore pressure marks she had tried to hide under the sleeve of her dress.
Dr. Patel documented everything.
The police commissioner took Claire’s statement only after she said she was ready.
Grant tried twice to interrupt.
Both times, the commissioner stopped him.
Claire’s voice trembled at first. Then steadied.
“We argued because I told him I didn’t want to attend the dinner,” she said. “I was tired. My shoulder hurt from earlier. He said I would make him look weak if I stayed upstairs.”
“What happened earlier?” the commissioner asked.
Claire closed her eyes.
“He grabbed me when I tried to leave the nursery. I slipped against the doorframe. Then he told me if I embarrassed him before the COO vote, he would make sure I had nowhere to go.”
Grant’s mother let out a strangled sound.
“That is not what happened.”
Claire looked at her.
For the first time all night, my daughter did not lower her eyes.
“You laughed when he said I understood the rules.”
Evelyn had no answer.
Daniel Ross closed the folder.
“Pending review, Grant Mercer will be removed from all executive succession consideration.”
Grant stared at him.
Then at me.
May you like
Then at Claire.
The world he had built on silence was collapsing because the woman he had frightened finally had people standing close enough to hear.
