Chapter 14 - Amelia's Last Meeting
Amelia's final meeting lasted nineteen minutes.
She accused Grant of stealing through fake security vendors.
She accused Victoria of using Northline to gather private information about the Hale family.
Then she said the sentence that changed the case.
"Copies are outside this house. If something happens to me, Elena knows where to start."
Victoria laughed softly on the recording.
"Then we make sure no one believes Elena."
Elena closed her eyes.
There it was.
The reason Victoria had spent years calling her difficult, emotional, controlling, and obsessed.
Grant admitted on the recording that Amelia's car system had been accessed.
The audio ended before anyone said exactly what they planned to do next.
But Grant broke during questioning.
He asked for a deal.
"I never wanted the kid hurt," he said.
Brooks leaned forward. "You sabotaged the stroller."
"It was supposed to roll a few feet in the garden. Victoria changed the location."
"And Amelia?"
Grant stared at the table.
"Victoria said the car problem needed to become permanent. I paid a contractor to compromise the stability-control module."
Behind the glass, Marcus closed his eyes.
"After Amelia died?" Brooks asked.
"Victoria said Marcus would eventually need someone. She handled the rest."
Marcus's marriage, grief, and recovery had all been mapped by strangers.
Brooks showed Grant the threat sent to Elena about her mother.
"Did you send this?"
"No."
"Victoria?"
"She was already with police."
"Then who?"
May you like
Grant looked toward the mirrored glass.
"Thomas."
