Chapter 7 - THE EVIDENCE THEY BUILT AGAINST ME
The interrogation lasted four hours.
I answered every question.
Caroline sat beside me.
No guessing.
No volunteering.
No panic.
That's what she kept whispering.
But panic was difficult to avoid when detectives showed me twenty-seven documents containing my signature.
Bribe payments.
Consulting invoices.
Wire transfers.
Inspector compensation.
Every one dated during my marriage.
Every one designed to make me look guilty.
Detective Mason slid another page across the table.
"Did you authorize this payment?"
"No."
"This one?"
"No."
"And this?"
"No."
He leaned back.
"That's a lot of forged signatures."
"I know."
"Who would have access?"
"My husband. His parents. Possibly company staff."
"And why frame you?"
Caroline answered before I could.
"My client is not here to speculate."
Mason looked at her.
Then at me.
"Fair."
He closed the folder.
"We're not arresting you."
Relief hit me.
Then he added, "Yet."
Outside, rain covered the sidewalk.
Daniel waited beside Caroline's car.
I walked past him.
"Emily."
I kept moving.
"Emily, please."
I turned.
"What?"
"I can help you."
I stared.
"You are the reason I need help."
"My father created most of this."
"Most?"
Daniel flinched.
That word had been deliberate.
"Which parts did you create?"
He looked at Caroline.
"Can we talk privately?"
"No."
"Emily."
"No more private conversations."
He rubbed his face.
"I forged one document."
"Which one?"
"The loan guarantee."
I felt my jaw tighten.
"So you did sign my name."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"The bank wouldn't approve it otherwise."
"And the fake prenup?"
"My mother handled that."
I laughed once.
"A family business."
Daniel looked miserable.
"I didn't know she amended it."
"Do you expect me to care?"
"No."
Then he said something unexpected.
"I have evidence against my father."
Caroline straightened.
"What kind?"
"Original inspection reports. Emails. Payments."
"Where?"
Daniel looked toward the street.
"Safe deposit box."
"Why keep them?"
"Insurance."
Against his own father.
Of course.
"Give them to investigators."
"I can't."
"Why?"
"Because some of the emails implicate me too."
I stared.
"You want immunity."
"Yes."
Caroline crossed her arms.
"Then hire a criminal attorney."
Daniel looked at me.
"My father won't let you walk away."
"I noticed."
"He'll destroy the company first. Then he'll blame you."
"He already tried."
"No."
Daniel's voice dropped.
"You haven't seen the worst document."
My stomach tightened.
"What document?"
He looked at Caroline.
"There's a life insurance policy."
I frowned.
"On who?"
"Emily."
Silence.
Rain struck the car roof.
Daniel continued.
"My father took out a key-person policy through Hayes Strategic."
My blood went cold.
"How much?"
"Five million dollars."
Caroline stared at him.
"And beneficiary?"
Daniel looked ashamed.
"Carter Development Group."
I couldn't speak.
The company stood to receive five million dollars if I died.
"How long has it existed?"
"Three years."
Three years.
The same years I was working myself sick to save Daniel's company.
Then Caroline asked the question I couldn't.
"Has anyone made an attempt on Emily's life?"
Daniel didn't answer.
My stomach dropped.
"Daniel."
He looked at me.
"Last winter, when your brakes failed..."
I stopped breathing.
The accident.
My car had spun across an icy intersection.
I had survived because a delivery truck blocked traffic.
The mechanic said a brake line had cracked.
Daniel had called it bad luck.
I whispered, "What about it?"
May you like
His eyes filled with fear.
"My father knew your brakes had been cut before the mechanic inspected them."
