Chapter 8 - The Picture in the Background
Eleanor's oldest friend had taken the photo before the ceremony. Victoria was partly obscured; Connor Voss was unmistakable.
Detective Torres requested the original image and its metadata. Rose gave her June's statement, and the investigator sought hotel access logs for the service corridor.
"Will any of this put Victoria in jail?" Rose asked.
"Evidence doesn't work like a television reveal," Torres said. "We build a timeline, test it, and see what survives a challenge."
Rose wished the truth moved faster.
At Harbor House, director Sonia Alvarez offered her coffee and a seat in the small kitchen. A boy was working on fractions nearby; a woman in scrubs slept in a chair after a night shift.
"Eleanor started this place because she hated hearing wealthy people call homelessness a character flaw," Sonia said. "She'd want you to know we aren't giving up."
Sonia showed Rose a parcel map. North Quay had surveyed the courtyard without an approved sale. The agreement named Blueglass Ventures.
"Who owns Blueglass?"
"That's what I've been trying to learn."
That night, Nathaniel obtained a conflict-of-interest report from his compliance officer. Blueglass was connected to an investment account held for Victoria through a Delaware entity. She had promised never to take a personal position in deals involving his foundation.
When confronted, Victoria laughed.
"You think I tried to murder your mother for a business fee?"
"I think you lied about having a stake in Harbor House."
"I was protecting our future. Your mother was determined to make you feel guilty for being rich."
"And if she died?"
Victoria's smile faltered. "What a horrible question."
Nathaniel opened the wedding agreement on his desk. He had loved the person he thought she was. Now he couldn't even trust the handwriting beside his own name.
Before leaving, Victoria slipped her engagement ring onto the table.
May you like
"Keep it. You'll be begging me to come back when the markets open."
An hour later, a lender called Nathaniel: a nine-figure Callaway credit line had been pledged as security for a deal he had never approved.
