Chapter 14 - The Initials That Changed Everything
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I didn't tell Maya about David's confession immediately.
For the first time in our friendship, I didn't know whether I could trust her.
M.C.
Two letters.
They could belong to hundreds of people.
But Maya Chen had access to my old professional documents.
She knew my financial habits.
She knew David.
And she'd appeared at my house the morning after the Rain Room confrontation already knowing something had happened.
I hated myself for considering the possibility.
Maya had been my closest friend for almost fifteen years.
She attended my wedding.
She helped me through my mother's final illness.
When I abandoned my accounting career, she was the person who told me I'd eventually find my way back.
Could she really be involved?
I called Elena.
“David mentioned initials connected to additional payments.”
“What initials?”
“M.C.”
Elena paused.
“Do you have a particular person in mind?”
“Yes.”
“Who?”
I swallowed.
“Maya.”
My attorney didn't respond immediately.
Then she said:
“Clare, initials alone aren't evidence. We need the underlying transaction records.”
“I know.”
“Be careful not to let suspicion replace proof.”
She was right.
But that didn't stop my hands from trembling.
Later that afternoon, Maya arrived to review a revised transaction summary.
I watched her carefully.
She seemed normal.
She complained about traffic.
She asked whether I'd eaten.
She brought the lemon cookies I liked from our favorite bakery.
I almost felt ashamed.
Then she noticed a printed list of payment recipients on my desk.
Her expression changed.
“Where did you get these?”
“David.”
She looked up sharply.
“You spoke to him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
I considered lying.
Instead, I chose my words carefully.
“He admitted the accounts were used without my permission.”
Maya went very still.
“Anything else?”
“He mentioned another person receiving money.”
She looked down.
“Did he give you a name?”
“No.”
I watched her closely.
“Only initials.”
Maya slowly placed the papers on the desk.
“What initials?”
“M.C.”
For several seconds, her face revealed nothing.
Then she laughed.
A little too quickly.
“Clare, you're not seriously thinking that's me?”
I didn't answer.
Her smile faded.
“You are.”
“Maya, I don't know what to think anymore.”
She stepped back.
“After everything I've done for you?”
“That's not fair.”
“No. What's unfair is helping someone for years and suddenly being treated like a criminal.”
I felt tears sting my eyes.
“Then help me understand why David had your name written on his desk.”
She stared at me.
Then her expression changed.
Not anger.
Fear.
“Clare, I told you he contacted me.”
“Did you ever help him with those companies?”
“No.”
“Did you ever meet Jennifer Thompson?”
Maya hesitated.
It lasted only a second.
But I saw it.
“Once,” she replied.
My heart tightened.
“When?”
“At a professional event.”
“Which event?”
She picked up her handbag.
“I can't do this right now.”
“Maya.”
She moved toward the door.
“Be careful who you trust, Clare.”
Then she left.
I stood motionless.
Five minutes later, my phone rang.
Jack.
“Clare, we've located an account associated with the initials M.C.”
My pulse raced.
“Whose account?”
May you like
He paused.
“Not someone I'd expected.”
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