Chapter 6 - Mason’s Sister Took Claire’s Side
Tessa Ashford arrived at Maribel’s apartment unannounced.
Mason’s younger sister was thirty-four, sharp, practical, and usually careful to avoid family conflict.
Claire nearly refused to see her.
Then Tessa held up both hands.
“I’m not here for Mom.”
“Then why are you here?”
“For you.”
That was unexpected.
Tessa sat at the small dining table.
“I know about the house.”
“How long?”
“About a year.”
Claire felt another betrayal.
“And you said nothing.”
“I thought you knew.”
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Tessa looked ashamed.
“Mason told me you and he agreed to help the company.”
Claire stared at her.
“He told you that?”
“Yes.”
That was worse than merely allowing Lenora to imply consent.
Mason had actively created the appearance that Claire approved.
Tessa continued.
“I found out something else last month.”
“What?”
“The company never repaid the line.”
Claire already suspected that.
Tessa shook her head.
“No. I mean they couldn’t.”
Harrow Development had used the original money to cover cost overruns on a condominium project.
Then interest rates rose.
Sales slowed.
Another project needed cash.
The debt tied to Claire and Mason’s home had effectively become part of a larger restructuring.
“How much exposure are we talking about?”
“I don’t know the exact number.”
“Does Mason?”
“Probably.”
Claire looked away.
Tessa leaned closer.
“But there’s something about last night I don’t understand.”
“What?”
“Mason called me three days ago.”
Claire looked back.
“He asked whether Mom still had administrator access to your security system.”
A cold sensation moved through Claire.
“What did you tell him?”
“I said I assumed she did.”
“Why would he suddenly ask?”
“I asked him the same thing.”
“And?”
“He said he was cleaning up old accounts.”
Claire thought about the camera.
The altered voice.
The administrator change after she left.
Mason had known somebody was watching before the confrontation.
Tessa seemed to read her expression.
“Claire, whatever he did to you was wrong.”
Claire said nothing.
“But I don’t think he suddenly lost his mind.”
“I don’t either.”
“What do you think happened?”
Claire looked toward the darkened window.
“I think somebody needed me out of that house.”
Tessa went still.
Then she asked:
“What’s inside the home office safe?”
Claire looked at her.
“What?”
May you like
Tessa’s face changed.
“Mason asked me about that too.”
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