Chapter 14 - Simon's Deal
Simon looked terrible.
Bruised. Exhausted. One arm in a sling.
But alive.
His lawyer sat beside him while Ruiz recorded the interview.
Grant watched from behind the glass.
Simon began with one sentence.
"I helped cover it up."
Grant's jaw tightened.
Simon continued.
"I moved money. I altered trust drafts. I warned Renata when Claire got close."
Ruiz asked, "Did you drug Claire?"
"No."
"Did Renata?"
"Yes."
Grant stepped closer to the glass.
"Did you know?"
Simon looked toward the mirror as if he could see Grant through it.
"Not until after."
Ruiz asked, "Who ordered the second brake tampering?"
Simon swallowed.
"Margaret."
"On whose authority?"
Simon hesitated.
Then said, "Mine."
Grant shut his eyes.
There it was.
Not a mystery anymore.
A choice.
Simon had ordered the sabotage after Claire threatened to expose the financial network.
Renata had separately drugged Claire to make her look unstable.
Their plans overlapped.
Claire died inside both.
Ruiz asked, "Why was Renata still involved after Claire died?"
Simon gave a bitter smile.
"Because she wanted the company."
"Through Grant?"
"Through Lily. Grant was supposed to become sick, Renata would marry him, then seek guardianship."
Grant's stomach turned.
Simon slid the red folder across the table.
"Claire had everything. I took it from the house. I couldn't destroy it."
"Why not?"
For the first time, Simon looked ashamed.
"Because Claire trusted me once."
Grant almost hit the glass.
Then Simon said something else.
"Renata has a copy of the guardianship petition already signed by Grant."
Ruiz frowned.
"Forged?"
"No."
Grant went still.
Simon looked toward the mirror.
"He signed it at the foundation dinner six months ago."
Grant remembered the dinner.
The collapse.
The sedative in his blood.
Renata placing papers in front of him the next morning.
"Insurance forms," she had said.
May you like
Simon finished:
"She already has what she needs to take Lily if Grant is declared medically incompetent."
