Chapter 17 - The Suitcase by the Door
At 10:52 p.m., Celeste called Naomi.
The number was blocked. Naomi answered only because Brooks had asked her to report any contact and preserve it.
"You could still come out of this rich," Celeste said.
Naomi put the call on speaker and signaled to the detective beside her.
"I don't want your money."
"Half a million dollars would change your life."
"You already tried to make it look like I took that."
Celeste laughed softly.
"Adrian won't keep defending you. Men like him don't protect employees when it costs them something."
Naomi remembered Evelyn inviting her to sit at the kitchen table.
"I'm not asking Adrian to save me," she said. "I'm telling the truth."
Celeste hung up.
Brooks saved the call information. She hadn't asked Naomi to bargain or threaten anyone, and she made that clear.
"You did enough," she told her. "Let us handle the rest."
A little after midnight, officers located Martin at a highway hotel. Celeste was found in a neighboring room. Both were taken into custody on warrants tied to the financial investigation. Their lawyers would have the opportunity to challenge the allegations.
In Celeste's luggage, investigators found copies of transfer packets, a second phone, and travel documents for an overseas connection. The contents were preserved for examination, not treated as instant proof of every accusation.
Naomi learned the news while making tea for Evelyn, who had returned home with new medical safeguards.
"Did they find her?" Evelyn asked.
"Yes."
Evelyn watched the steam rise from her cup.
"I'm glad she's safe enough to answer for what she did."
Naomi looked surprised.
"You mean that?"
"I wanted her stopped," Evelyn said. "I didn't want another person hurt."
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The next morning, a prosecutor called June with an urgent warning.
Celeste's lawyers were asking the court to throw out the recordings and reopen the trust transfer.
