Chapter 13 - The Man Who Offered Nora MoneyAdrian Pike arrived at Nora's townhouse at 7:15 on Friday evening.
He wore a dark coat and carried no briefcase.
Nora recognized him through the front window.
Her first instinct was not to open the door.
Then he rang the bell again.
"Mrs. Brooks?"
Nora stayed behind the locked door.
"What do you want?"
"I need to speak with you."
"Then contact my attorney."
"Please. This won't take long."
She glanced toward the small doorbell camera mounted beside the entrance.
The device had been installed after the suspicious sedan appeared outside her house.
Nora had also contacted Detective Shaw about the earlier incidents.
Now she kept the door closed and continued speaking through it.
"What is this about?"
"Celeste."
Nora felt her stomach tighten.
Adrian lowered his voice.
"I know you don't like her."
"This isn't about liking anyone."
"Fine. Then let's talk about helping yourself."
He reached into his coat and removed an envelope.
"There are people willing to compensate you."
Nora stared at it through the glass.
"For what?"
"For correcting misunderstandings."
"What misunderstandings?"
"Your statement could have been affected by stress. Maybe you didn't see everything clearly."
Nora's voice hardened.
"I saw enough."
Adrian looked around the quiet street.
"Mrs. Brooks, you have a son."
Her heart lurched.
"Don't mention my son."
"I'm saying you have responsibilities. College is expensive."
He held up the envelope.
"One hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars."
Nora went cold.
For a moment, she thought about Eli.
His college applications.
The repairs her townhouse needed.
The debt she still carried from her mother's medical expenses.
That amount of money could change their lives.
Adrian seemed to recognize her hesitation.
"You don't have to say you lied," he continued. "Just say you were frightened and may have misinterpreted the situation."
Nora looked toward the street.
Then she imagined Mia kneeling beside Baxter's bowl.
The child's trembling voice.
Please... I don't want to eat this.
She felt something settle inside her.
"No."
Adrian frowned.
"Think carefully."
"I said no."
"You're making a mistake."
Nora's hands were shaking.
But her voice remained steady.
"Leave my property."
Adrian stepped closer to the door.
"People who go against Celeste usually regret it."
Nora did not answer.
Instead, she reached for her phone and called the police.
"I'm reporting an attempted payment to influence my witness statement," she said.
Adrian backed away.
He looked directly at the doorbell camera.
For the first time, his expression changed.
He had noticed it.
Nora remained behind the door until he left.
She preserved the recording and informed Detective Shaw.
When Gabriel learned what happened, he wanted to send private security to Nora's home.
Margaret advised him to coordinate any necessary precautions with Nora, her attorney, and law enforcement rather than making unilateral decisions.
Nora accepted additional security measures for the time being.
But she refused to leave her house.
"Eli grew up here," she told Gabriel over the phone. "I'm not letting Celeste decide where we live."
Gabriel understood.
That night, Eli sat beside his mother on the sofa.
"Was that man dangerous?"
Nora considered her answer.
"He wanted me to do something wrong."
"Did you?"
"No."
Eli nodded.
"Good."
Then he asked, "Are we going to be okay?"
Nora wrapped an arm around him.
"I think so."
She wanted to sound certain.
She wasn't.
Across town, Adrian returned to Celeste's apartment.
She was standing beside the kitchen island, examining documents.
"Well?" she asked.
"She refused."
Celeste set down her pen.
"How much?"
"Everything."
"Did you explain the amount?"
"Yes."
Celeste laughed bitterly.
"How noble."
Adrian moved toward the sink and poured himself water.
"She has a doorbell camera."
Celeste stopped smiling.
"What?"
"It recorded the conversation."
"You idiot."
He turned.
"I told you this was a terrible idea."
"Why didn't you check?"
"Because I'm not a criminal investigator!"
Celeste stared at him.
Then she said, "You're certainly behaving like a criminal."
Adrian slammed down the glass.
"Don't you dare put this all on me."
She approached him.
"Lower your voice."
"No."
Celeste froze.
It was the first time in years that Adrian had spoken to her without immediate fear.
"You built this," he said. "You pushed the invoices. You told Graham what to approve. You kept increasing the amounts."
"You took your share."
"Yes. I did."
His voice cracked.
"And I hate myself for it."
Celeste looked away.
Adrian continued.
"I thought we were cheating a foundation full of rich donors."
Celeste's eyes narrowed.
"That doesn't make it better."
"I know."
He swallowed.
"But then I found out you were taking from Mia's trust."
Celeste said nothing.
"That money was for her."
"She'll never need all of it."
Adrian stared at his sister.
"Listen to yourself."
Celeste crossed her arms.
"The girl lives in a mansion. She has specialists, caregivers, and every opportunity."
"She was eating from a dog bowl!"
The room went silent.
Celeste's face hardened.
"Get out."
Adrian stood motionless.
"Celeste—"
"Get out."
He picked up his coat.
At the door, he stopped.
"You think you can control everyone."
Celeste did not answer.
"But Nora won't take your money. Gabriel won't protect you. And Graham is already frightened."
Her expression changed.
"What has Graham said?"
Adrian opened the door.
"Maybe you should ask him."
After he left, Celeste called Graham Vale.
No answer.
She called again.
Nothing.
Then she sent a message.
We need to meet. Tonight.
A reply arrived twenty minutes later.
Do not contact me outside counsel.
May you like
Celeste stared at the screen.
For the first time, she began to understand that the people who had helped her were preparing to save themselves.
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