He Accused Me of Stealing, But I Heard the Truth novel · Chapter 15 of 24

Chapter 15: Five Million to Vanish

Ciara's POV

Laurence came back from Imogen's office and stood in the doorway of the blue room, and he told me what she had said.

He said it out loud, all of it, because of the new rule.

"She asked if I wanted to know what you did while I was looking for you."

"And?"

"I walked out."

*I did not want her to say it. I wanted to hear it from you.*

"There's nothing to hear," I said. "I slept in a bus station."

"I know."

He said it so plainly that I believed he did.

At two that afternoon the buzzer went again.

It was not the county this time.

It was a messenger in a navy blazer, and he put a thick envelope in Laurence's hand and made him sign for it.

I read it over his arm.

It was a petition, filed in the family court that morning, in the name of the painter.

He asked for a genetic test, joint custody and the right to see Birdie twice a week, alone, at his studio.

"His lawyer's name is on the paper," Laurence said. "The firm that sits on my own board's retainer."

"Imogen picked him."

"Probably."

My own phone buzzed in my pocket.

I looked at it, and my mouth went dry.

*Five minutes, in the elevator. Come alone, Ciara. I only want to help.*

She had not signed it with a name.

Laurence read it over my shoulder.

"No," he said at once. "Not alone. I'll come."

"She won't say a word with you there."

"Then she says nothing."

"Then we learn nothing." I closed the phone. "She doesn't hide anything from me, Laurence. She hides it from you. She thinks I am the one person in your house she doesn't have to be careful with."

He did not like it.

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