Chapter 5 - The Green Coat
Graham Pike had attended Ethan's charity dinners for a year, calling himself a trauma adviser. He wore so many green coats that Rosa joked about it.
He also owned Stillwater Outreach, the company billing the Caldwell Foundation for Lily's supposed treatment.
"Nora was reviewing the foundation's accounts before the crash," Ethan said in the waiting room. "She mentioned irregular payments. I told her to discuss it with our financial director."
"Did she?"
"I don't know." He rubbed his forehead. "I was working out of the country. There was always another call I had to take."
That confession did not erase his responsibility, but it was the first time I'd heard him talk about work without defending it.
Dr. Sethi later said Lily was stable and responding to supportive care. Certain test results were still pending. A nurse brought breakfast. Lily refused the milk carton before anyone opened it.
"Can I have water?" she asked.
"Of course," the nurse said, setting the milk aside without argument.
The relief on Lily's face was so sudden I had to look away.
Ethan called the foundation's interim finance lead, Samir Cole, and requested an independent review of Stillwater's invoices. Samir said the board, not Ethan alone, would need to authorize changes to certain accounts. Ethan agreed and asked him to convene a meeting.
At noon my phone filled with messages from coworkers. Someone had posted a ten-second video online: me striking the bride-to-be while fifty guests gasped. The caption called me a jealous employee. My face was clear; Vivienne's purse and the syringe were conveniently outside the frame.
Rosa called. "Grace, don't read the comments. I gave the police my name. I saw her move toward the milk cart."
"Thank you."
"You didn't earn a paycheck to watch a child get hurt. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."
I sat beside Lily's bed while she drew a crooked house on hospital stationery. In one window she drew a woman with a diamond necklace.
"That's Vivienne," she said.
"I see."
"I don't want her in my room again."
May you like
Before I could answer, Ethan entered with his phone pressed to his ear. The estate's archive manager had discovered someone had accessed Nora's office during the engagement party.
The security credential used belonged to Vivienne.
