Chapter 19 #2
“Yep,” she smiles. “Already have the shop covered, so I’ll be there no later than four.”
“Four?” Claudia asks, pushing herself to be present.
“Four?” Nalani asks over the music.
“Four will work for me.” I nod.
My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out.
The message icon lights up.
Larry:
There’s a problem at your residence.
I tap back a text
Me:
Am I needed?
Larry:
Yes.
I look up and see Aleks eyes honed in on mine. I nod to the door and mouth, I have to go.
I don’t wait for him because Larry never sends for me. Ever.
“See you all tomorrow.” I force a smile. “I have to take this.”
I give them all a quick hug and head out the door, where James is pulling up.
He hops out and rounds the vehicle.
“I am perfectly capable of—”
He cuts me off, “With all due respect, Miss Fairfax, I’m here, you need a ride. It’s my job.”
“This doesn’t mean I’m not still fucking pissed at you,” I snap as I climb in.
“Wait,” comes from behind him, and I see Claudia.
“Miss Holloway,” James smiles as she starts to get in.
“Claudia, you don’t have to—”
“Shh, I can’t text and talk and think of two things at once,” she says, looking to James. “I’m coming.”
“Alright then,” he shuts the door.
“I don’t know what I’m going to be walking into. Larry never calls unless—”
“The bruises?” She asks.
“He’s not usually physical. He’s only done that a few times.” James slides in. “And Larry never calls unless—”
James speaks as he pulls away from the curb, “Your sister is demanding security let her in. She said she won’t leave until he lets her in, or she speaks to you face-to-face.”
“Claudia, this is going to put you on their radar even more.” I shake my head. “We can drop you off at—”
“I’m going to be there for you, like you have been for me.”
“Deacon will—”
She cuts me off. “I sent him a message. He knows I’m with you.”
“I—”
“Tonight, this, it’s … you’re my freaking sister.” Her voice quivers. “Neither of us asked for this, but you have to know how happy this makes me. You, whom I adore, are my blood? I’ve wished for that all my life; I pray Savannah has that one day. I have no reason to be upset.”
“You absolutely do, because same, but I needed a … moment.” And an Aleks to get through this.
“You’ve been carrying this, and one day I will lecture you on the fact that you should have come to me.
That you didn’t have to carry this alone, but right now?
” She shakes her head. “I have a lot of feelings that can wait to be sorted out. Until I can schedule a mini meltdown, I am going to be here for you.”
“I don’t want it to cause you any more issues than it —”
“If they already know or even if they haven’t a clue, either way I can go stand beside you.”
“If she has them with her still, Emma and Rathburn?”
“Bring it the fuck on,” she laughs.
James clears his throat, “It’s not my place to interject, but I’d suggest you keep that card in your back pocket. If they go to the board thinking it’s two against one, imagine their surprise when it’s not.”
“They will have the numbers either way if they have the board on their side, and my guess is they do.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself,” he chuckles. “If anyone can pull this off you can.”
“Stop being so… you. I’m still pissed at you.” I scold James.
“I’d rather you be pissed than go dark.” He states.
When James pulls up, Elena, Bianca, and Rathburn are standing at the door with an NYPD officer, beside them, and another in the squad car.
Eleven at night. My father is asleep by eight.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I mutter.
James exhales slowly. “This is procedural. Not an arrest. I will talk to them if you want.”
“No,” I say quietly. “I’ve got this.”
I step out. The officer approaches first, polite but firm. “Ms. Fairfax?”
“Yes.”
“We received a request for a welfare check on Arthur Fairfax. Concern that he may be isolated.”
I keep my voice even, calm, neutral.
“It’s late. He is not missing, they saw him on Thanksgiving, the one day a year they actually show up.
Two adult women ensuring they give ‘Daddy’ their Christmas list. The people on his payroll see him more than they do, care more than they ever have.
His board had a meeting with him just the other day. ” I bait, and they bite.
“A video conference.” Bianca scoffs. “She won’t let us see him.”
“If you wanted to see him, you should have come here at a decent hour instead of showing up at the game. But that wasn’t part of your little plan, was it?” I look back at the officer. “He’s in bed by eight or eight thirty every night, has been for years, they’d know this if they cared at all.”
The officer holds up a hand, cutting them off. “This isn’t about access.” Then to me. “I do need to visually confirm he’s okay or speak with him briefly. Alone.”
I nod. “I understand. He can speak with you briefly. In the morning. I’ll add it to his schedule.”
The officer hesitates. “Normally, yes. But since the complaint was made tonight, I need confirmation now or documentation explaining why that’s not appropriate.”
Before I can respond, Claudia steps forward. Not emotional, not defensive, just the calm she carries even now.
“Officer,” she says, careful with every word, “you’re asking to verify well-being, not to mediate family conflict, right?”
He looks at her. “That’s correct.”
She nods to me.
“I hold a medical doctorate,” Rathburn says, lips curling with satisfaction.
“I’m a psychiatrist, not a psychologist. I was contacted by concerned parties, and as a licensed physician, I’m fully qualified to be present.
” She glares, freaking glares at Claudia.
“Frankly, Officer, I’m far more equipped to assess Arthur Fairfax’s condition than anyone standing here. ”
“You’re a—”
Claudia and that calm breeze in, “Then you certainly know the difference between a visual and full evaluation, yes, Ms. Rathburn?”
“You’re being insubordinate. I am your boss.”
Claudia shakes her head, “I’m employed by the team.” Then she fully turns her back to her, blocking her, and looks at me.
“She’s been isolating him. We’ve been concerned for weeks.” Rathburn hisses.
The officer’s head snaps toward her. “We?”
Rathburn straightens, “The family and those concerned for them. The shareholders. People with a vested interest in Arthur Fairfax’s wellbeing.”
There it is.
I feel James stiffen behind me.
The officer’s tone cools several degrees. “Are you alleging a crime?”
Rathburn hesitates. Just a beat too long. “Well—control. Undue influence. That sort of thing.”
Elena jumps in, eager. “She controls his schedule, his access, everything. That’s not normal.”
Bianca folds her arms. “We’re worried she’s manipulating him.”
The officer holds up a hand. “Let’s slow down.”
He turns to Rathburn again. “You’re not immediate family.”
Rathburn bristles. “I’m a doctor, I hold two doctorates. Two. His firstborn daughters have asked for my help.”
“She double D’d him,” Claudia whispers to me, amused.
“That doesn’t give you standing,” the officer replies. “And alleging manipulation without evidence is a serious accusation.” The officer looks back at Elena and Bianca. “Have either of you personally witnessed harm, neglect, or unlawful restraint?”
Elena opens her mouth, then closes it.
“Well, no,” Bianca says finally. “But—”
“But you don’t like the arrangement,” the officer finishes. “That’s not a police matter.”
Rathburn exhales sharply. “This is ridiculous. She’s clearly positioning herself—”
The officer cuts her off, voice firm now. “Miss, I need you to stop. I’ve already explained the scope of a welfare check,” he continues. “You’ve escalated this into allegations you cannot substantiate. If you continue, this shifts from concern to harassment.”
Bianca’s face goes pale. Elena looks furious.
Rathburn laughs once, sharp and wrong. “Harassment? The family. The shareholders. People with a vested interest in Arthur Fairfax’s wellbeing.”
The officer meets his eyes. “Then act like it.” He turns back to me. “Ms. Fairfax, I’ll proceed as discussed.”
I nod.
As he steps toward the entrance, Rathburn snaps, “This isn’t over.”
I look back at her. “Astute observation, doctor.”
Larry buzzes us in and steps aside.
“Good evening Sofie. Sorry about this.”
I smile at him, “Just another day.” I nod to Claudia. “This is Claudia Holloway, and she and her fiancé, Deacon Moretti, have full access.”
“I’ll add them right away.”
We step into the elevator, and the doors slide shut, sealing us in.
“I want to be clear,” I say carefully.
Claudia interrupts. “Before we go any further, medical information requires consent. Arthur Fairfax can give it himself, or Sofie can as his healthcare proxy?”
I nod, “Yes.”
He nods at once. “I understand.”
I add quietly, “I can authorize what’s necessary.”
He gives me a brief look, not invasive, just confirming. “That’s more than sufficient.”
The elevator hums as it climbs.
“I want to be clear,” he continues, voice low, almost conversational.
“This isn’t my first welfare check involving money, power, or family disputes.
Sadly, pretty common here in New York City.
For what it’s worth, I see this a lot. Adult children weaponizing concern when control or money is involved, I don’t need a diagnosis,” he goes on.
“I need to see that he’s safe, not being restrained, and speaking of his own free will. If he tells me that, we’re done.”
“And if he doesn’t?” I ask.
“Then I reassess,” he says simply. “But nothing I saw downstairs suggests immediate danger.” He pauses, then adds, “What I did see was people trying to use concern as leverage.”
There it is.
“I’m not here to referee inheritance, corporate control, or family politics. That’s above my pay grade and outside my badge. I’ll be brief, respectful, and I won’t wake him unless absolutely necessary.”
I nod, grateful in a way I don’t have words for.