Chapter 6 - The Last Thing Her Father Saw
The Marlowe Opera House emptied in eleven minutes.
Fire crews and structural engineers arrived.
By two in the morning, the rain outside had become a storm.
Clara sat on the rear bumper of an ambulance drinking terrible coffee.
Adrian appeared beside her wearing a borrowed black coat over his wine-stained shirt.
“Good coffee?”
“Awful.”
He held out another cup.
“Then I brought you more.”
She accepted it.
“Thanks.”
For once, neither spoke immediately.
Finally Adrian said, “The roof is safe.”
Clara looked at him.
“The report?”
“Outdated. The truss was repaired six years ago but never entered into the original file.”
“Good.”
“Your father's other claims are being investigated.”
Clara nodded.
Adrian studied her.
“You should call him.”
“He's asleep.”
“After tonight?”
“He turns his phone off at ten.”
Adrian almost smiled.
“Your father has boundaries.”
“My father doesn't care who you are.”
“I like him already.”
Clara looked toward the opera house.
“What happens to Victor?”
“He resigns from the foundation tomorrow.”
“Your decision?”
“His.”
“And Barker?”
“Police found financial records linking him to the restoration fraud. They also recovered tools and access cards from his vehicle.”
“He'll go to prison?”
“That's for a court to decide.”
Clara looked surprised.
Adrian noticed.
“What?”
“That's not the answer I expected from Adrian Moretti.”
“What answer did you expect?”
“Something involving a lake.”
He laughed.
Actually laughed.
Marco walked over and stopped.
“I've worked for him twelve years.”
Clara looked at him.
“And?”
“I've never heard that sound.”
“Go away, Marco.”
“Yes, boss.”
He walked off smiling.
Adrian looked at Clara.
“You aren't afraid of me.”
“I was.”
“When?”
“Before you laughed.”
“That ruined everything?”
“Completely.”
He shook his head.
Then his expression became serious.
“I owe you my life.”
“You don't owe me anything.”
“I disagree.”
“I don't want money.”
“I didn't offer money.”
“You were going to.”
“I was.”
“No.”
Adrian studied her.
“What do you want?”
Clara thought about it.
“My father deserves the truth.”
“He'll have it.”
“And the workers Barker cheated deserve compensation.”
“They'll have it.”
“And the catering staff shouldn't lose tonight's wages because the gala ended early.”
Adrian stared at her.
“What?”
“Three hundred people almost watched you become chandelier furniture and you're negotiating overtime?”
“They worked.”
Adrian pulled out his phone.
“Marco.”
Marco turned.
“Everyone gets full pay. Triple.”
Clara blinked.
“I didn't say triple.”
“I know.”
He ended the call.
“Anything else?”
“Your tuxedo is terrible.”
“It was fine before you poured wine on it.”
“It made you look unfriendly.”
“I am unfriendly.”
“That explains it.”
A black sedan pulled up.
Adrian opened the rear door.
“I'll take you home.”
“I can take the bus.”
“It's two-thirty in the morning.”
“I've taken buses at two-thirty.”
“I don't doubt that.”
He waited.
Clara looked at the car.
Then at him.
“This isn't some strange mafia kidnapping?”
“No.”
“Because you'd have to tell me.”
“Apparently.”
She climbed inside.
The next morning, Adrian kept his promise.
Thomas Hayes received a call he had waited eight years to receive.
The Moretti Foundation publicly requested a new investigation into the Marlowe restoration fraud.
Victor Moretti admitted that he had failed to investigate Thomas's warnings.
Barker was charged in connection with the gala sabotage and financial crimes.
Two weeks later, Clara received another call.
This one came directly from Adrian.
“I have a job for you.”
“No.”
“You haven't heard it.”
“Does it involve carrying wine?”
“No.”
“Continue.”
“Safety compliance director for the Moretti Foundation properties.”
Clara nearly dropped her phone.
“You're joking.”
“I don't joke about structural engineering.”
“I'm not an engineer.”
“No. You're the woman who noticed what engineers missed.”
“I'd need training.”
“We'll pay for it.”
“Certification.”
“Paid.”
“College courses.”
“Paid.”
Clara went silent.
Adrian said, “Clara?”
“Why?”
“Because my organization has enough people who tell me what I want to hear.”
His voice softened.
May you like
“I need someone who looks up.”
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