Chapter 13 - THE WOMAN WHO KNEW EVERYTHING
Carolyn Reed contacted Sheriff Ruiz two hours later.
She wanted immunity.
In exchange, she offered everything.
Emails.
Bank records.
Recordings.
Shell-company documents.
A list of thirteen victims.
Three had died under suspicious circumstances.
One was still missing.
And Malcolm Reed had been running the operation for eight years.
The meeting took place in a federal building.
Carolyn sat across from Shawn.
Elegant.
Gray coat.
No jewelry.
She looked exhausted.
“I’m sorry about your parents.”
Shawn didn’t respond.
She deserved no comfort from him.
“You knew?”
“I suspected.”
“For how long?”
“Years.”
“And you said nothing?”
“I was afraid.”
Shawn’s laugh was cold.
“Everyone keeps saying that.”
Carolyn looked down.
“You think fear makes people noble. It doesn’t. Sometimes it makes them cowards.”
That answer stopped him.
She continued.
“I tried to collect enough evidence to make sure Malcolm couldn’t buy his way out.”
“Meanwhile people got hurt.”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
No defense.
Just yes.
Shawn respected that more than he wanted to.
Nicole sat in federal custody nearby.
She had surrendered.
The original deed was recovered.
So were files proving Reed had arranged forged documents and financial theft from elderly landowners.
Kyle agreed to testify.
Brenda agreed too.
By Christmas Eve, prosecutors had enough to hold Reed without bail.
Shawn finally returned to the house.
The Christmas tree still stood.
One ornament had fallen.
Broken glass lay beneath it.
Shawn picked up the pieces.
Don entered slowly.
“Your mother says we should take the tree down.”
“It’s Christmas Eve.”
“She says it feels wrong.”
Shawn looked around.
The beautiful decorations.
The perfect lights.
The house where his parents had suffered beneath the floor.
“Maybe she’s right.”
Don sat.
“Maybe we should make it ours again.”
Shawn looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Don nodded toward the tree.
“Take Brenda’s decorations down. Put Mom’s ugly ones back.”
Shawn laughed.
“Those wooden angels?”
“They’re hideous.”
“Mom loves them.”
“I know.”
Together, they found the old boxes in the attic.
Handmade ornaments.
Old family photographs.
A crooked star Shawn made in elementary school.
Maria cried when she saw it.
“You kept this?”
Don shrugged.
“She wouldn’t let me throw it away.”
Maria slapped his arm.
“You cried when he made it.”
“I had sawdust in my eye.”
On Christmas morning, they ate pancakes.
Nothing fancy.
No expensive gifts.
No perfect decorations.
Just family.
Except Brenda’s chair was empty.
Shawn looked at it more than once.
Maria noticed.
“She did terrible things,” Shawn said.
“Yes.”
“I don’t know if I can forgive her.”
Maria poured coffee.
“You don’t have to decide today.”
Then someone knocked.
Sheriff Ruiz stood outside.
His expression was serious.
Shawn’s stomach tightened.
“What now?”
Ruiz removed his hat.
“We found the missing victim.”
“Alive?”
Ruiz paused.
“Yes.”
Shawn exhaled.
“That’s good.”
Ruiz didn’t smile.
“There’s something you need to hear.”
He looked at Don.
“The victim says your family wasn’t Reed’s first target.”
Don frowned.
Ruiz continued.
“He says Reed learned the entire operation from someone else.”
Shawn felt cold.
“Who?”
May you like
Ruiz answered:
“Your uncle Thomas.”
