Chương 13
“Some did.”
Howard nodded.
“Some still do.”
The officer immediately pulled out a small notebook.
Howard raised a hand.
“I said I want a lawyer before details.”
“That’s fine.”
She did not put the notebook away.
Linda looked at Daniel.
“You don’t understand how close we were to losing everything.”
Daniel stared at her.
“Everything meaning what?”
“The company.”
“Our house?”
She said nothing.
“The house?”
Howard answered.
“Yes.”
Daniel looked at him.
“You mortgaged it?”
“Twice.”
Daniel laughed, but it came out broken.
“You told me the second mortgage was for expansion.”
“It was.”
“That’s not what you just said.”
Howard lowered his eyes.
“It became both.”
I watched Daniel’s face change as pieces of his childhood, his parents’ lifestyle, their confidence, their constant insistence on status rearranged themselves into something fragile.
Linda saw it too.
“Do not look at us like that.”
“How should I look at you?”
“We gave you everything.”
“I didn’t ask you to steal for me.”
Her face crumpled for one second.
Then the old rigidity returned.
“You think life gives you clean choices?”
Daniel looked at her.
“No.”
He glanced at me.
“I think people use that sentence when they already made the dirty one.”
Linda flinched.
I almost did too.
The sentence sounded unlike him.
Or maybe it sounded like the version of him I had been waiting for.
Howard looked at Dad.
“The drive probably contains copies of emails, invoices, internal memos, and anything Linda thought could prove you knew more than you admitted.”
Dad’s expression hardened.
“I did not know about the larger scheme.”
“I believe you.”
Linda laughed bitterly.
“How touching.”
Howard ignored her.
“But you did know enough that she thought you were vulnerable.”
Mom looked at Dad.
“He was vulnerable.”
Dad glanced at her.
She did not soften.
“You knew something was wrong and chose quiet.”
“Yes.”
“You chose our daughter’s relationship over transparency.”
His face tightened.
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“Did you ever intend to tell me?”
Dad hesitated.
That hesitation hurt more than the answer.
“I told myself I would if it became relevant.”
I swallowed.
“It was relevant the day you decided my engagement was part of your business judgment.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t get to say that right now.”
He nodded.
“You’re right.”
I hated that too.
I wanted him to argue so I could stay angry without complication.
Instead he looked older than he had that morning.
Howard sat on the edge of a bench along the wall.
“I used your relationship as leverage.”
Daniel stared at him.
Howard kept his eyes down.
“I knew Richard liked you.”
Dad said nothing.
“I knew he believed you were good for Emily.”
Daniel’s mouth opened.
No words came.
Howard continued.
“I told him that if this blew up publicly, it would destroy more than a contract.”
“That’s disgusting.”
“Yes.”
“You used me.”
“Yes.”
“And Emily.”
“Yes.”
Daniel turned away from him.
I could see his shoulders shaking.
I wanted to go to him.
I did not know whether I was allowed to anymore.
Mom moved first.
She touched his arm lightly.
Daniel looked at her.
“I’m sorry.”
Mom shook her head.
“You didn’t do it.”
“I brought them into your life.”
“You were born into theirs.”
He stared at her.
She squeezed his arm once and let go.
Linda watched them.
Something like jealousy crossed her face.
“You’re comforting him now?”
Mom turned.
“Yes.”
“He is my son.”
“I know.”
“You have no idea what he needs.”
Mom’s expression became almost gentle.
“That may be the first true thing you’ve said tonight.”
Linda’s mouth tightened.
The female officer spoke to her partner, who had returned from the basement.
He leaned close and murmured something.
She nodded.
Then she looked at Linda.
“Mrs. Whitmore, we have enough information to detain you while we sort out the unauthorized access and the computer issue downstairs.”
Linda stiffened.
“I did not access anything.”
“The workstation shows a USB device was connected.”
Everyone looked at the evidence bag.
Marcus’s face went pale.
Dad stepped forward.
“When?”
The officer glanced at her partner.
“Approximately twenty minutes ago.”
Linda spoke quickly.
“That proves nothing.”
“No one said it proves content was copied.”
“You’re implying it.”
“We’re preserving the facts.”
Linda looked at Howard.
“Say something.”
He remained seated.
“Howard.”
He rubbed his hands together.
“I’m done saying things to make tonight easier.”
She stared at him.
Then her eyes moved to Daniel.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“Please.”
It was the first time she had used the word all evening.
Daniel’s face changed.
For one terrible second, I thought he might go to her.
Maybe she did too.
Her shoulders loosened.
Then Daniel said, “Tell the truth.”
Linda’s eyes filled.
“I am trying to save this family.”
“No.”
He shook his head.
“You’re trying to save the version where nobody finds out.”
The officer reached for Linda’s arm.
Linda recoiled.
“Don’t touch me.”
“Ma’am, keep your hands where I can see them.”
“This is insane.”
“Hands where I can see them.”
Linda looked around wildly.
The dining room entrance was visible at the far end of the corridor.
A hostess had closed the service door, but two employees stood beyond the small glass panel.
The world Linda cared so much about was watching.
“Not here,” she whispered.
The officer’s tone softened slightly.
“Then cooperate.”
Linda looked at her son.
He did not move.
She placed her purse on the bench.
The officer guided her hands behind her back.
The click of the cuffs sounded small.
That was the strangest part.
After all the shouting and glass and doors and accusations, the sound that changed everything was almost delicate.
Linda closed her eyes.
Howard looked at the floor.
Daniel stared at the cuffs.
Mom took my hand.
Linda opened her eyes again.
She looked at me.
“You wanted this.”
I felt my mother’s fingers tighten around mine.
“No.”
Linda gave a bitter smile.
May you like
“Don’t pretend.”
“I wanted you to stop humiliating my mother.”
