Part 3

For three seconds, no one moved.

Then Richard stood so fast his chair hit the wall. “What the hell is this?”

“A photograph,” I said. “Sent to me by your wife.”

Vanessa’s lips trembled, but her eyes were vicious. “It’s fake.”

I clicked the remote in my hand. The television behind me came alive.

TV & Video

Screenshot. Timestamp. Message thread. Metadata report. The original file path. My lawyer’s preservation notice.

“No,” I said. “It’s authenticated.”

Daniel finally found his voice. “Claire, listen to me.”

“I did. For five years.”

His sisters stared at the image like it might bite them. Richard turned slowly toward Vanessa. “Tell me this is not true.”

Vanessa reached for him. “Richard, she’s unstable. You know how jealous she is.”

I clicked again.

Bank transfers filled the screen.

“While we’re discussing jealousy,” I said, “your foundation paid $480,000 over eighteen months to three consulting companies. All registered to Vanessa’s cousin. None performed services. I sent the documentation to your attorney, your board, and the state charity bureau at six o’clock.”

Richard went gray.

Vanessa whispered, “You had no right.”

“I had every right. I was hired last year to audit one of the vendors you used. You were sloppy.”

Daniel lunged toward the remote. Two men stepped out from the kitchen before he reached me. My attorney, Marcus, and a private security officer.

Daniel stopped. “You brought witnesses?”

“I brought protection.o”