Chapter 3 - The Safe Deposit Box
The morning sun had barely crested the horizon.
Claire pulled her sedan into the parking lot of First National Bank.
She had not slept a single wink.
Lily was asleep in the backseat, covered by a heavy wool blanket.
They had spent the night parked in the lot of a 24-hour diner.
Claire had been too terrified to go back to their townhouse.
She knew Evelyn’s people would be watching the house by now.
Claire checked her rearview mirror again.
The coast was clear.
She turned around and gently shook Lily’s shoulder.
"Wake up, baby."
Lily groaned and rubbed her eyes.
"Are we home?"
"Not yet."
"Where are we?"
"We have to run an errand."
Claire helped Lily out of the car.
The morning air was crisp and biting.
Claire wrapped a thick scarf around Lily’s neck.
She made sure the bruised wrist was covered by a long sleeve.
They walked up to the heavy glass doors of the bank.
The security guard unlocked the doors precisely at 8:00 AM.
Claire walked straight to the customer service desk.
"I need to access my safe deposit box," Claire told the teller.
"Of course, ma'am. Name?"
"Claire Harrow."
The teller typed the name into her computer.
A strange look crossed the young woman’s face.
She stopped typing and looked at her screen.
"Is there a problem?" Claire asked, her heart rate spiking.
"Just a moment, Mrs. Harrow."
The teller picked up her desk phone and dialed a short extension.
She whispered something into the receiver.
Claire pulled Lily a little closer to her side.
A man in a sharp grey suit walked out of the back office.
It was Mr. Vance, the branch manager.
He did not look happy.
"Mrs. Harrow, could you step into my office?"
"I just need to access my box, Mr. Vance."
"Please, just for a moment."
Claire hesitated.
She looked at the security guard standing near the entrance.
She had no choice.
She led Lily into the plush, carpeted office.
Mr. Vance closed the door behind them.
"Mrs. Harrow, I don't know how to tell you this."
"Tell me what?"
"Your accounts have been frozen."
Claire felt the blood drain from her face.
"Frozen? By whom?"
"We received a court order late last night."
"That's impossible. No judge works at 2:00 AM."
"Judge Harrison does, apparently."
Claire recognized the name instantly.
Judge Harrison was a close personal friend of Evelyn Harrow.
He attended all of their charity galas.
"On what grounds?" Claire demanded.
"Pending a family court investigation."
"They have no right to touch my money!"
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Harrow. My hands are tied."
"What about my safe deposit box?"
Mr. Vance looked down at his desk.
"The order covers all assets within the institution."
"The contents of that box belong to me."
"I cannot grant you access."
Claire felt a wave of pure panic wash over her.
The hard drive was in that box.
The evidence against Evelyn was in that box.
Without it, she had no leverage.
Without it, Evelyn could crush her like a bug.
"Mr. Vance, please," Claire begged.
"There are personal items in there."
"I wish I could help you, Claire."
"Just give me five minutes."
"If I open that vault for you, I lose my job."
Claire stared at the manager.
She saw the genuine pity in his eyes.
But pity wouldn't save her daughter.
"Can I at least withdraw some cash for food?"
"Your debit cards will be declined."
Claire reached into her purse.
She pulled out her wallet and checked the cash compartment.
She had exactly forty-two dollars.
Forty-two dollars to go to war against a billionaire.
"Come on, Lily," Claire said, her voice trembling.
"Are we leaving?"
"Yes."
Claire marched out of the bank with her head held high.
But inside, she was screaming.
Evelyn was systematically cutting off her lifelines.
They reached the car.
Claire strapped Lily in and got behind the wheel.
She rested her forehead against the steering wheel.
She closed her eyes and took a shuddering breath.
A sharp tap on the driver's side window made her jump.
May you like
She looked up.
Standing outside her car was Harris, the Harrow family security guard.
