Chapter 5 - Natalie ReedNatalie Reed did not want to meet.
Claire's cousin had worked for Kindred Nest Media for almost two years, mostly editing videos, managing sponsored posts, and watching Lucy during filming.
When Ethan called, Natalie said only:
"I have an attorney."
That told him enough.
Paige contacted her lawyer instead.
Two days later, Natalie agreed to a voluntary meeting in Paige's conference room.
She looked exhausted.
"Claire says you're trying to take Lucy forever."
"I'm trying to keep Lucy safe."
Natalie stared at the table.
"I should've said something."
Ethan's chest tightened.
"About what?"
Paige interrupted.
"Let her speak in her own order."
Natalie nodded gratefully.
"Claire changed after the company started losing money."
"When?"
"About fourteen months ago."
Ethan frowned.
"She told me the company was growing."
"It was growing in followers."
"Not money?"
Natalie shook her head.
Kindred Nest Media had signed several large sponsorship deals and expanded too quickly.
Claire leased studio equipment.
Hired contractors.
Ordered branded merchandise.
Then two major sponsors canceled after campaigns underperformed.
The company owed vendors nearly $180,000.
Ethan stared.
"Why didn't I know?"
"Claire said you would shut the business down."
"I would've helped."
Natalie gave him a sad look.
"She didn't want help. She wanted it to work without needing you."
That sounded like Claire.
"How does Lucy's account connect?"
Natalie's eyes filled.
"The first time Claire transferred money, she said it was temporary."
"How much?"
"Ten thousand."
"Did you help?"
"I created an invoice."
Ethan's anger sharpened.
"For what?"
"Child-content production."
"Explain."
Natalie struggled.
"Kindred Nest paid a company for supposed expenses related to Lucy appearing in promotional content."
"What company?"
Natalie whispered, "Mine."
Ethan stared.
Natalie had created an LLC called Reed Creative Support.
Claire sent money from Lucy's custodial account into the family business's dormant expense account and then paid Reed Creative through fabricated invoices.
Natalie returned most of it to Kindred Nest.
"You laundered my daughter's money through your company."
Natalie began crying.
"Yes."
Paige remained calm.
"Why are you telling us now?"
"Because I stopped."
"When?"
"Three months ago."
"What happened?"
Natalie looked at Ethan.
"I saw Claire shove Lucy into the hallway wall."
Ethan went still.
Natalie quickly added, "She didn't throw her. She grabbed her when Lucy ran out of the office during a call. Lucy hit the wall and cried."
"Was her back hurt?"
"I don't know."
"Did you see marks?"
"Later."
"And?"
Natalie covered her mouth.
"I asked Claire."
"What did she say?"
"She said Lucy bruises easily."
Ethan closed his eyes.
"You believed her?"
"No."
That answer hurt worse.
"Then why didn't you call me?"
Natalie whispered, "Because she had me."
"With the invoices."
"Yes."
Claire had reminded Natalie that fabricated business invoices could ruin her financially and possibly expose her to criminal consequences.
Natalie stayed quiet.
Then the abuse worsened.
Claire began using the storage closet as "quiet space" during work calls.
Sometimes ten minutes.
Sometimes much longer.
"Did Lucy sleep there?"
"Once that I saw."
Ethan's hands curled.
Natalie continued.
"She wasn't locked in overnight. Claire put her there during the afternoon. Lucy cried herself to sleep."
Ethan looked away.
Paige asked, "What about the security cameras?"
"Claire turned off the hallway camera when she used the closet."
"Why?"
"She said Ethan checked the app too much."
Ethan had barely checked it at all.
That shame was his own.
Natalie opened her bag.
"I kept something."
She removed an external drive.
"Copies of company files?"
"And messages."
Paige did not touch it immediately.
"We'll arrange proper preservation."
Natalie nodded.
"There's one more thing."
Ethan waited.
"Claire wasn't just preparing for divorce."
"What was she preparing for?"
Natalie looked terrified.
"She wanted the business debts paid before she filed."
"With the home-equity loan."
"Partly."
"What else?"
"Lucy's account."
"There's less than a hundred thousand left."
Natalie swallowed.
"Claire planned to take all of it."
Ethan felt cold.
"She couldn't legally do that."
"She thought she could make it look like you did."
The room went silent.
Paige leaned forward.
"How?"
Natalie looked at Ethan.
"She'd been building a file to say you were secretly draining family assets before abandoning her."
Ethan finally understood the travel logs.
The photographs.
The custody timeline.
Claire was not merely hiding theft.
She was preparing to assign it to him.
May you like
Then Natalie said the sentence that changed the entire case.
"She already created the evidence."
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