Chapter 5: The People Claire Left Behind
I waited until Claire left my bedroom before responding to Robert.
*What do you need to show me?*
His reply came almost immediately.
*A recording. But I would rather show you in person. Your father is coming tomorrow morning. Can you come with him?*
I hesitated.
Then I typed:
*Yes.*
At 6:30 the following morning, I found my father in the garage.
He was loading a black folder into his SUV.
“Are you going to Red Creek?””
He looked surprised.
“Yes. Why?””
“Robert contacted me.””
My father stopped.
“What did he say?””
“He wants to show me something.””
My father's expression became serious.
“Did he tell you what?””
“No.””
He studied my face.
“Emma, this investigation could become complicated. I don't want you dragged into something that might upset you.””
“I already know about the missing money.””
“I know.””
“And I know Mom signed the transfers.””
He looked away.
I stepped closer.
“Dad, if families were affected by what happened, I want to know.””
He remained silent for a moment.
Then he opened the passenger door.
“Get in.””
The drive took nearly three hours.
As we left Atlanta behind, the landscape gradually changed. Tall buildings gave way to smaller towns, wooded roads, and stretches of farmland.
I watched the scenery through the window.
My father drove quietly.
Finally, I asked, “Did Claire really work there last summer?””
“Yes.””
“What was she like?””
He gave a tired smile.
“She arrived with an expensive suitcase, designer sunglasses, and a list of demands.””
I looked at him.
“What demands?””
“She wanted a private room, a personal assistant, and a company vehicle.””
I almost laughed.
“Of course.””
“Robert tried to accommodate her. He assigned her to the administration office and asked her to help distribute supplies.””
“What happened?””
My father tightened his grip on the steering wheel.
“According to Robert, Claire refused to visit several of the damaged homes. She said the conditions were depressing.””
I stared at him.
“She was supposed to help people.””
“I know.””
“Did you know all that last summer?””
“No. I was told she had completed administrative work and left because of personal difficulties.””
I looked out the window again.
My father had been deceived, too.
When we arrived, I saw rows of modest houses, several with fresh roofing materials and newly painted doors.
But some buildings still showed visible storm damage.
A woman was standing beside a small white house, trying to cover a broken window with plastic.
A young boy carried a bucket of water toward the front porch.
I felt my chest tighten.
This was what the money had been intended to repair.
A man in his late forties approached us.
“David.””
My father shook his hand.
“Robert. Thank you for meeting us.””
Robert turned toward me.
“You must be Emma.””
I nodded.
“Thank you for letting me come.””
He smiled sadly.
“I wish we were meeting under better circumstances.””
He led us into a small administration building.
Inside, there were desks, filing cabinets, and photographs of completed homes.
Robert placed a folder on the table.
“Before I show you the recording, I want you to understand what happened here.””
He opened a document.
“Last summer, we had twelve families waiting for emergency repairs. Some were living in temporary trailers. Others were staying with relatives.””
He pointed to several names.
“Your father's company approved funding for roofing, electrical repairs, and temporary housing.””
My father nodded.
“I remember the authorization.””
Robert continued.
“Then the money started disappearing.””
He showed us the payment records.
“Materials weren't delivered. Contractors weren't paid. Several families were told their repairs would be delayed.””
I looked at the dates.
“Was this when Claire was here?””
“Yes.””
Robert took a breath.
“Your sister came into the office one afternoon with Patricia. They asked me to sign several revised expense reports.””
My father frowned.
“Why wasn't I told?””
“Because I refused.””
Robert opened another folder.
“I told them the reports were inaccurate. The listed materials had never arrived.””
“What did they do?”” I asked.
Robert looked directly at me.
“Your sister told me that if I refused to cooperate, she would make sure I lost my position.””
I stared at him.
“Claire said that?””
He nodded.
“She reminded me that her father owned the company. She said my job depended on keeping her happy.””
My father looked furious.
“I would never have authorized that.””
“I know that now,” Robert replied.
“But at the time, I had no idea what was happening behind your back.””
Robert turned his laptop toward us.
“I installed a security camera after the first set of missing receipts disappeared.””
He clicked on a video file.
The footage showed the administration office.
Claire entered carrying a folder.
My mother followed.
They sat at the desk.
The audio was clear enough to hear their conversation.
“Did you bring the originals?”” my mother asked.
Claire opened the folder.
“Some of them.””
“Some?””
“I told you I couldn't get everything.””
My mother sighed.
“Then we'll have to use the copies.””
Claire leaned closer.
“What about Robert?””
“He's becoming a problem.””
“He said he was going to call Dad.””
My mother looked toward the door.
“He won't.””
Claire laughed.
“He looked pretty determined.””
My mother's voice became colder.
“Then remind him what happens when he crosses this family.””
I felt sick.
The recording continued.
Claire removed several documents and placed them inside her handbag.
Then she said something that made my father stand up.
“What if Dad discovers the money went to my account?””
My mother replied:
“Then we'll tell him you were reimbursing me for expenses. He won't want to expose his own daughter.””
My father slammed his palm against the desk.
“Stop.””
Robert paused the recording.
Nobody spoke.
I looked at my father.
He was staring at the screen with a terrible expression.
The woman he had trusted for nearly thirty years had been planning to use his love for his daughters as protection.
And Claire had helped her.
Robert opened another file.
“There is more.””
My father sat down again.
“What?””
Robert showed us a photograph of a small house with a damaged roof.
“This belonged to a woman named Mrs. Evelyn Carter. She was seventy-two. Her husband died several years ago, and she lives alone.””
I looked at the photograph.
“What happened to her?””
“Her roof was supposed to be repaired last August. The materials were paid for on paper, but they never arrived.””
“Is she still living there?””
“Yes.””
Robert turned to my father.
“She contacted us last week because water has started leaking into her bedroom again.””
My father closed his eyes.
“How many families?””
“Four.””
“Four?””
“Four families whose repairs were delayed because the money was diverted.””
I couldn't breathe properly.
My father stood.
“I want the full list. Every invoice, every transfer, every person who approved a payment.””
Robert nodded.
“I've prepared everything.””
Then he looked at me.
“Emma, there's something you should see.””
He opened another recording.
This one was dated three days before Claire left Red Creek.
The camera showed my mother entering the office alone.
She placed a document on Robert's desk.
Then she said:
“Sign this, and the company will consider your previous concerns resolved.””
Robert refused.
My mother leaned closer.
“You have a family, don't you?””
Robert didn't answer.
She smiled.
“Then you should understand why protecting your job matters.””
The recording ended.
My father looked at Robert.
“Why didn't you report this immediately?””
“I tried. I sent three emails to the corporate office.””
My father frowned.
“I never received them.””
Robert opened his laptop and showed us the messages.
All three had been marked as delivered.
But the recipient address wasn't my father's personal company email.
It was Patricia's administrative account.
My mother had intercepted them.
I covered my mouth.
My father looked devastated.
“She's been hiding this from me for almost a year.””
Robert nodded.
“There's one more thing. The second account you asked about.””
My father leaned forward.
“Did you find it?””
“Yes.””
Robert printed a statement.
The account was registered to a company called Carter Family Holdings.
The account had received sixty-four thousand dollars from P.M. Lifestyle Consulting.
I recognized the word Carter.
“Is that related to Mrs. Evelyn Carter?””
Robert shook his head.
“No. The company is registered under Patricia Miller's maiden name.””
My father stared at the document.
“Where did the money go?””
Robert pointed to the latest transaction.
“Most of it was transferred into an account connected to a property purchase.””
My father looked up.
“What property?””
Robert turned the laptop toward him.
A photograph of a luxury condominium appeared on the screen.
The address was in Buckhead.
I recognized the building.
It was the same condominium Claire had shown off on social media the previous Christmas.
The apartment she claimed she was renting with her own savings.
I whispered, “Claire's apartment.””
My father nodded slowly.
Then Robert said:
“There's something else you need to know. The property isn't registered under Claire's name.””
He clicked another document.
The owner was listed as Patricia Miller.
My father leaned back.
His face had become completely still.
And then his phone rang.
The caller ID showed my mother's name.
He answered.
“Patricia?””
Her voice was frantic.
“David, where are you?””
“Red Creek.””
A pause.
Then she said:
“Come home immediately.””
“Why?””
“Because Claire is gone.””
My father stood.
“What do you mean she's gone?””
“She left this morning. She took her suitcase, the car, and the documents from your office.””
My father looked at Robert.
“What documents?””
My mother's voice cracked.
“The original Red Creek files.””
I felt my blood run cold.
May you like
Claire had known we were coming.
And she had taken the one thing that could prove exactly where the money had gone.
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