“That Matias manipulated her. Threatened her. That everything she did was because she was scared of him.” Jag shrugged.
Ziggy shook her head immediately. “Is that true? Because that’s not how she acted when the show started. Claire wasexcited. She didn’t seem nervous at all about being in a prison. Super focused. Until she was told she would be the one bringing in Noah’s gifts. But maybe she’s just a great actress.”
Noah snorted. “Claire’s calculating. I’m sure she can blend into whatever situation she needs to.”
“I agree with that,” Jag said. “And I got to take a look at the letters and phone transcripts.”
“Seriously?” Noah sat up taller. “I bet my father went looking for someone at the station.”
“No,shestarted writing to him.” Jag lifted his mug, arched his brow, then took a sip. “Turns out, she likes men who do bad things. They fascinate her, and she reached out to Matias. They struck up a bit of a dirty friendship.”
Ziggy felt her stomach turn, not dramatically, just enough that the bite of sandwich she’d eaten earlier sat heavier in her gut than it should have.
“That’s… disturbing,” she said.
“It’s a thing,” Noah said quietly. “Remember that show we did?—”
“Doesn’t make me feel better.” Ziggy shivered.
Jag wiggled his finger between Noah and Ziggy. “Exactly. And Matias played into it. He found her trigger points, and he leaned into them hard, especially when he found out she worked for the same station as Noah.”
Ziggy stared into her mug. “How, exactly?”
“At first, it was just conversation. Simple questions. Nothing that would seem odd on the surface, but when you dissect it, you can see how Matias is stroking her ego and telling her how great she is. How she’s so smart and anyone who can’t see that is an idiot,” Jag said. “He played into her vanity. Into the things that are important to her. And he spent very little time talking about himself. Only when it was necessary and only when it was tied to her.” He waved a finger at Noah. “She told him she wanted towork your show more than anything and how she felt you didn’t even see her.”
Ziggy pressed her hands flat. “It’s rare that Noah looks at the junior floaters. He expects me to do that.”
“Well, eventually, he told her he was Noah’s father. He played it like, I shouldn’t tell you this. It’s a big secret. Noah would be so upset if anyone ever found out, so you can’t tell anyone. If you do, I won’t help you. But he told her he knew Noah’s weak spots and could help her get on the show. Move her career forward.”
Ziggy rubbed her thumb along the edge of the counter. “She’s a smart girl. I can’t believe she fell for that.”
“She wanted something, and she was willing to do whatever it took,” Jag said. “He also had her digging. That’s how he found out you and Noah lied about him turning down the interview five years ago.”
“That’s what triggered all of this?” Ziggy asked.
“Unfortunately, my father was always easily hurt,” Noah said. “What happens now?”
“As far as your dad goes, not much, because he refuses to cooperate,” Jag said. “He told Amy and Brian they’ve got the phone calls. The letters. He’s in prison for the rest of his life, so they can go fuck themselves. He’s not saying another word. Not denying or confessing anything. He’s just going to sit in prison, eat his three meals, watch television, and work out while he waits to die. Easy life. I’m paraphrasing a bit, but that’s pretty much the gist of it.”
“That sounds about right.” Noah chuckled.
“It’s not funny.” Ziggy poked his arm.
“It is if you spent the first fourteen years of your life with him.” Noah smiled.
She tilted her head and frowned.
Noah dropped his gaze to his coffee. Smart man. “What about Claire?”
“She was still at the station when I left, but at that time, they hadn’t arrested her.” Jag pushed off the counter, straightening and stretching his back. “Brian and Amy are confident Claire will be processed today for a Class B felony for assault. That carries a maximum ten-year prison term.”
Ziggy’s head lifted. “Ten years?”
“That’s just the start,” Jag said. “Conspiracy to commit a felony with an inmate could add time—up to half the maximum sentence. Harassment’s in there too, but it doesn’t carry much weight compared to the rest.”
Ziggy leaned back against the stool, the reality of Claire's conviction settling in piece by piece. “What did she think she was going to get out of doing all this?”
“According to the letters, she believed she’d eventually be promoted right up to Ziggy’s job,” Jag said. “Maybe even take over as girlfriend. Who knows?”