Chapter 17 - The Bargain
Margaret asked to see Emily alone.
Ethan said no before Emily could answer.
Emily said yes.
They met in an interview room at the police station with a camera running and Ruiz behind the glass.
Margaret looked smaller without pearls, makeup, and the mansion around her.
The bruise on Emily’s cheek had almost faded.
Margaret stared at it anyway.
“I shouldn’t have hit you.”
Emily waited.
“That’s it?”
“What do you want me to say?”
“The truth would be new.”
Margaret looked down at her hands.
“I faked the paternity report.”
“I know.”
“I paid Nora. I used Ethan’s authorization. I thought if he believed the baby wasn’t his, he would separate from you before the birth.”
“You were willing to destroy your son’s marriage.”
“I was trying to save the company.”
Emily leaned forward. “Stop calling control salvation.”
Margaret’s eyes flashed.
Then the anger disappeared.
“Grant killed Richard.”
Emily went still.
“How?”
“They argued at the house. Grant shoved him. Richard hit his head on the corner of the desk.”
“Was he alive?”
“Yes.”
“Then why didn’t you call an ambulance?”
Margaret began to cry.
“Grant said Richard would expose everything. He said if we called for help, Richard would wake up and send us both to prison for the financial transfers.”
“So you let him die.”
“I thought we could get him to a private doctor.”
“That is not what you did.”
Margaret covered her face.
“We put him in the car. Richard woke up on County Nine. He tried to get out. Grant pulled over. They fought again.”
Emily’s stomach turned.
“What happened?”
“Grant hit him.”
“With what?”
Margaret shook her head.
“With what?” Emily demanded.
“A tire iron.”
Silence filled the room.
Emily thought of Ethan being told his father died peacefully in a study.
“You moved the body.”
“Yes.”
“You lied for years.”
“Yes.”
“Why tell me now?”
Margaret wiped her face.
“Because Grant has the tire iron.”
Emily frowned.
“He kept it?”
“He kept everything that could control me.”
“Where is he?”
Margaret looked toward the dark observation window.
May you like
“He’s going to the old cannery tonight. He thinks the ledger copies are hidden there.”
Then she added, “And he knows Ethan is looking for him.”
