Chương 10
She called Rachel.
“Can he have that?”
“If it was lawfully produced in litigation involving him, possibly.”
“Why didn’t we get it?”
“Our case resolved before audio became relevant. The silent footage established the conduct. Sophie’s medical records established injury.”
“Can I get it now?”
Rachel paused.
“Why?”
Madeline hated the question because she did not have a good answer.
“To hear it.”
“You were there.”
“I know.”
“Do you think you remember incorrectly?”
“No.”
“Then what do you think the recording changes?”
Madeline looked at the window.
Rain had started.
Not heavy.
Nothing like that night.
“I don’t know.”
Rachel sighed.
“That answer again.”
“It’s popular.”
“If Daniel wants something from you, assume the recording is part of how he plans to get it.”
Madeline met him anyway.
Not alone.
She chose Rachel’s office.
Daniel arrived without counsel.
He looked older.
Not dramatically. A little thinner. More gray near his temples. The expensive calm had frayed.
Madeline had spent months imagining she would feel nothing if she saw him again.
Instead she felt too many things.
Affection.
Disgust.
Recognition.
Pity.
Anger at the pity.
Daniel sat across from her.
Rachel remained at the far end of the table.
“I brought the file,” he said.
Madeline looked at the flash drive.
“What do you want?”
He gave a tired smile.
“Still efficient.”
“What do you want?”
“My firm is negotiating my departure.”
“I read that.”
“Sophie’s complaint triggered an internal investigation.”
“Expense reports.”
“Yes.”
“Were they false?”
Daniel looked at Rachel.
Rachel said, “You’re not required to answer.”
He almost laughed.
“Interesting reversal.”
Madeline waited.
“Yes,” he said. “Some were inaccurate.”
“Inaccurate.”
“Personal expenses were categorized as business.”
“Because language matters?”
Daniel looked at her.
“That was deserved.”
“No, it was easy.”
She pushed the flash drive back toward him.
“Why should I care about the recording?”
“Because it shows the entire conversation after I entered.”
“It records it.”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
Daniel clasped his hands.
“There’s a documentary project.”
Madeline’s stomach tightened.
“Sophie?”
“She’s been approached.”
“About what?”
“The incident. Relationship deception. Online narratives. I don’t know the full scope.”
Madeline looked at Rachel.
Rachel’s expression did not change.
Daniel continued.
“If the audio becomes public, my comments will be cut into a story that makes it look like I deliberately transferred Sophie’s ring to you as some kind of calculated humiliation.”
“Didn’t you?”
“No.”
“You lied about it.”
“Yes.”
“You told Sophie your mother wanted the stone back.”
His face changed.
Madeline felt a small, ugly satisfaction.
Good.
He had not known she knew.
“Who told you that?”
“Sophie.”
Daniel looked away.
“So it’s true.”
“My mother had concerns about the cost.”
“Did she ask for it?”
“No.”
Madeline nodded.
“Then why are we here?”
“Because I’m asking you to confirm, if you’re contacted, that I did not present the ring as a deliberate insult.”
Rachel finally spoke.
“You’re asking her to characterize your intent.”
“I’m asking her to tell the truth.”
Madeline looked at him.
“You really believe that sentence means whatever you need it to mean, don’t you?”
Daniel leaned forward.
“I loved you.”
“That isn’t disputed.”
“I planned to marry you.”
“Also not disputed.”
“The ring was not a joke.”
“No one said it was.”
“You’re letting Sophie turn me into something I’m not.”
Madeline sat back.
There was the old structure again.
You’re letting.
Sophie is turning.
Something happening to Daniel, always caused by the nearest woman.
“What are you?” Madeline asked.
He stared at her.
“Excuse me?”
“You said she’s turning you into something you’re not. What are you?”
Daniel’s face reddened.
“You know me.”
“I did.”
“You know I’m not cruel.”
Madeline thought for a moment.
“I think you hate feeling cruel more than you hate causing pain.”
Silence.
Rachel lowered her eyes to her notes.
Daniel’s mouth tightened.
“That sounds like something your therapist told you.”
“Court-ordered anger counselor.”
“Of course.”
Madeline felt the insult.
More importantly, she felt the old desire to hurt him back.
For one second, the sentence arrived ready.
At least I went.
She could imagine the expression it would create.
Instead she let the sentence die.
Daniel noticed the silence.
Perhaps that unsettled him more.
Madeline pointed at the flash drive.
“What is the exact thing you’re afraid the recording proves?”
He looked at it.
“That I knew the origin of the ring and concealed it.”
“You did.”
“That I misled you.”
“You did.”
“That Sophie tried to warn you.”
“You knew she was trying.”
His eyes lifted.
Madeline continued.
“So what are you protecting?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
The answer came softly.
“My career.”
For the first time in the meeting, Madeline believed he had told the whole truth.
She almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“What do you want me to do?”
“If you’re contacted, say the ring was legally mine after Sophie returned it.”
Rachel’s eyebrows moved slightly.
Madeline looked at Daniel.
“Was it?”
“Yes.”
“That isn’t what you asked at first.”
“It’s relevant.”
“To whom?”
“To anyone claiming I stole it.”
“Is anyone claiming that?”
“No.”
“Then you want me to answer an accusation nobody has made.”
Daniel exhaled.
“You know how media works.”
Madeline looked at the flash drive.
Then she understood.
He wanted her on record early.
Not to correct a lie.
To establish a frame.
“Sophie hasn’t asked me to be part of anything,” Madeline said.
“She will.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know her.”
The arrogance of it nearly made Madeline laugh.
“You knew her,” she said.
Daniel looked at her sharply.
Madeline stood.
“I won’t speculate about your intent. I won’t lie about what happened. I also won’t dramatize it.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“No. It isn’t.”
She pushed the flash drive toward him again.
“Keep it.”
He did not take it.
“You should hear it.”
“I heard you the first time.”
Daniel stared at her for a long moment.
Then he picked up the drive.
May you like
At the door he stopped.
“I am sorry.”
