Chapter 6 - The Vale Family DinnerVictor Vale was waiting at the head of the dining table when Adrian arrived.
At seventy-three, Victor still carried himself like a man accustomed to having every door opened before he reached it.
His silver hair was perfectly combed. His navy suit looked freshly pressed. A glass of untouched red wine stood beside his dinner plate.
Adrian's younger sister, Lydia, sat to his right.
She looked exhausted.
"You're late," Victor said.
Adrian removed his black overcoat.
"I wasn't aware this was a dinner invitation."
Victor smiled without warmth.
"Sit down."
Adrian remained standing.
"Did you know Celia Quinn?"
Lydia closed her eyes.
Victor picked up his wineglass.
"That name again."
"It's a simple question."
"She worked for a charitable housing organization."
"An organization you controlled."
"Funded," Victor corrected. "There's a difference."
Adrian placed Ortega's photograph on the table.
Victor looked down.
For one brief second, something moved behind his eyes.
Then his expression became indifferent.
"Where did you get this?"
"Does it matter?"
"It matters to me."
"You told investigators you hadn't visited Morrow House in October 2016."
"I visited hundreds of properties."
"Three days before the fire?"
Victor sighed.
"Adrian, you are a grown man. Surely you understand that an old photograph doesn't prove a crime."
"Then explain why you were there."
"A routine inspection."
"With Marcus Pike?"
"Marcus was responsible for security."
"And the gold ring he was wearing?"
Victor's hand stopped.
Lydia looked up sharply.
Adrian noticed.
"What ring?" Victor asked.
"The Vale family signet."
"You're imagining things."
"You told me it disappeared ten years ago."
"Because it did."
"Was Marcus wearing it?"
Victor set down his glass.
"You are dangerously close to making accusations you cannot support."
Adrian pulled out another document.
An internal property transfer summary.
"Morrow House belonged to the Morrow Community Land Trust. Its directors were supposed to approve any transfer of the property. The corporation acquired it shortly before the fire."
"It was a lawful sale."
"Then why can't I find the original board resolution?"
"Ask the attorneys."
"I did. Vivian sent me a scanned copy."
"Then you have your answer."
"The scan contains the signature of a director who was hospitalized on the date the document claims he attended the meeting."
Lydia's fork struck her plate.
Victor turned toward her.
"Lydia?"
She looked pale.
Adrian stared at his sister.
"You knew?"
"No," she said too quickly.
Victor leaned back.
"You've spent weeks digging through records you don't understand, and now you're dragging some unfortunate girl through a personal obsession."
Adrian felt his temper rise.
"She has a name."
"She's a troubled young woman who has apparently discovered that my son is generous with money."
"Don't talk about her that way."
Victor's face hardened.
"You brought a visibly unstable stranger into one of the most expensive salons in Boston and handed over ninety thousand dollars. Do you have any idea how that looks?"
"I don't care."
"You should. Our lenders care. Our investors care."
"And Celia Quinn's daughter?"
Victor went completely still.
Adrian watched him.
"I never told you whose daughter she was."
For the first time that evening, Victor had no immediate answer.
Lydia pushed back her chair.
"Adrian, please."
But Adrian kept his eyes on his father.
"You knew Mara was alive."
Victor looked toward the windows.
"Your mother used to say you were too sentimental to run this company."
The mention of their mother made Lydia flinch.
Adrian's voice dropped.
"Don't use her to change the subject."
"Your mother understood sacrifice."
"She understood kindness."
Victor laughed bitterly.
"She enjoyed the benefits of the empire I built."
"And what did it cost?"
Victor's eyes sharpened.
"Everything worth building costs something."
Adrian looked at Lydia.
"Do you believe that?"
She stared at her hands.
Then she whispered, "Dad, just tell him."
Victor slowly turned toward her.
The room became silent.
"Tell me what?" Adrian asked.
Lydia's mouth trembled.
Victor spoke before she could answer.
"Your sister is tired."
"No," Lydia said.
Victor stared at her.
She swallowed.
"I can't keep doing this."
Adrian took a step toward her.
"Lydia?"
Her eyes filled.
"The financial records from 2017," she whispered. "I approved some of them."
Victor rose.
"Enough."
Lydia stood, too.
"You told me the settlement was legitimate!"
"Lydia."
"You said nobody had been hurt by the transfer!"
Victor struck the table with his palm.
The silverware jumped.
"That is enough!"
Lydia fell silent.
Adrian watched the two of them.
Then he understood.
His sister wasn't simply frightened of their father.
She was frightened of what she had helped him do.
Adrian picked up the photograph.
"I'll find out what happened," he said.
Victor's expression turned cold.
"If you continue, the board will have no choice but to review your position."
Adrian stared at him.
"You're threatening to remove your own son?"
"I'm trying to protect what belongs to this family."
Adrian opened the dining-room door.
"No," he said. "You're trying to protect what you stole."
As he walked toward the front entrance, Lydia hurried after him.
"Adrian!"
He turned.
She caught his sleeve.
"There's something you need to know about the girl."
His heart tightened.
"What?"
Lydia glanced over her shoulder.
May you like
Then she whispered:
"Ruth Danner wasn't supposed to keep her for ten years."
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