Chapter 7 - The Guardianship File
The guardianship petition had never been filed.
But it was ready.
Every page had been prepared months before Claire disappeared.
Peter’s office also contained copies of my medical records, travel schedules, and insurance policies.
Someone had been building a version of my life in which I looked careless and unstable.
Claire said quietly, “Vanessa kept asking me about your panic attacks.”
I looked at her.
“I had two. After Dad died.”
“I know. But she made them sound constant.”
Then Emma whispered, “She asked me questions too.”
We both turned.
“What questions?” I asked.
Emma stared at her shoes.
“If you yelled. If you forgot to feed me. If Mommy cried because of you.”
My stomach twisted.
“When?”
“At the restaurant. When Mommy went to the bathroom.”
Claire shut her eyes.
Vanessa had been collecting material from all of us.
Ortiz received another call.
Peter Sloan had been detained in Montreal.
He immediately asked for a lawyer.
Then, after hearing Claire had been found alive, he changed his mind.
He wanted to make a deal.
Two hours later, we joined a secure video interview from the hospital conference room.
Peter looked older than he had one week earlier.
He would not look at me.
Ortiz asked, “Where is Vanessa Crane?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is Lucas Reed?”
“I don’t know.”
“What was the plan?”
Peter swallowed.
“It changed.”
“From what?”
He finally looked into the camera.
“Originally, Claire was only supposed to be gone for six weeks.”
Claire’s hand tightened around mine.
“Why?”
“To force a sale.”
“Of what?”
Peter hesitated.
Then he said, “Mercer Food Holdings.”
I stared at him.
“My company isn’t for sale.”
May you like
Peter’s face twisted with something close to pity.
“You might want to check who owns the debt.”
