Construction.
Transportation.
Private aviation.
Real estate.
Depending on which article people believed, her net worth sat somewhere between four and seven billion dollars.
Sofia appeared behind Caleb.
“Dad?”
Caleb looked from Helena to Vivienne.
Then at the limousines.
Then back.
“You said your name was Vivienne.”
She almost smiled.
“It is.”
“You left out a part.”
“Yes.”
Helena Vale climbed the porch steps.
Caleb instinctively wiped his right hand against jeans before offering it.
She shook firmly.
“Mr. Reyes.”
“Mrs. Vale.”
“Ms.”
“Sorry.”
“Don’t be.”
Her eyes moved briefly toward the kitchen.
Sofia stood behind Caleb, staring.
Helena’s expression softened.
“And this?”
“My daughter.”
Sofia stepped out slightly.
“Sofia.”
Helena smiled.
“Good morning, Sofia.”
Sofia looked toward limousines.
“Are you famous?”
Caleb closed his eyes.
Helena laughed.
A genuine laugh.
“Sometimes inconveniently.”
Sofia nodded as though this made sense.
Caleb looked at Vivienne.
“What is this?”
Helena answered.
“My daughter told me what happened yesterday.”
“I changed a tire.”
“No.”
“You identified a wheel installed dangerously less than twenty-four hours after my company paid a contractor to service it.”
Caleb’s expression changed.
“Your company?”
Helena looked at the Range Rover parked near curb.
“Fleet vehicle.”
Vivienne said:
“It belongs to Vale Alpine.”
Caleb leaned against doorframe.
“Calloway services your fleet?”
Helena nodded.
“Forty-seven vehicles in this region.”
“Plus twelve snow machines, eight maintenance trucks, and six shuttle vans.”
Caleb stared at her.
“That is not my problem.”
“Not yet.”
He frowned.
Helena reached into her coat and removed a clear evidence bag.
Inside lay the damaged lug nut Caleb had given Vivienne.
“My head of fleet operations inspected this last night.”
“They agree with you.”
Caleb nodded.
“So Calloway made a mistake.”
Helena’s gaze remained steady.
“One mistake is human.”
“Three is concerning.”
Caleb’s attention sharpened.
“Three?”
“Two other fleet vehicles had wheel-service failures this winter.”
“No injuries.”
“But one shuttle lost a wheel at low speed in a resort parking area.”
Caleb’s jaw tightened.
“Who inspected afterward?”
“Calloway.”
“Of course.”
“We were told manufacturing defect.”
“Could be.”
Helena continued.
“Except Vivienne’s tire was made by a different manufacturer.”
Caleb said nothing.
Helena glanced toward her security chief.
Aaron opened a slim folder.
Inside were invoices.
Caleb did not touch.
Helena said:
“There’s more.”
“Service costs from this branch are thirty-eight percent higher than comparable Vale properties.”
“Parts replacement rates almost double.”
“Vehicle downtime longer.”
“My internal staff accepted explanation because Calloway is the only full-service contractor nearby.”
Caleb looked at her.