Chapter 6 - BRENDA’S CONFESSION
Brenda sat behind the interview-room glass.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
No perfect Christmas smile.
For the first time, Shawn saw his sister as she really was.
Exhausted.
Scared.
Cornered.
Sheriff Ruiz placed a photo of the SUV on the table.
“Your vehicle was used in an attempted attack at the hospital.”
Brenda stared at it.
“That’s impossible.”
“Who has your keys?”
“No one.”
“Think carefully.”
Her face changed.
“Kyle.”
Ruiz leaned back.
“Kyle was in custody.”
Brenda looked confused.
Then frightened.
“He made copies.”
“Who else works with him?”
“I don’t know.”
“Brenda.”
“I swear.”
Shawn watched from behind the glass.
His hands curled into fists.
Ruiz changed tactics.
“What happened to Shawn’s money?”
Brenda began crying again.
“Kyle took most of it.”
“How?”
“I gave him access.”
“Why?”
“He said he could invest it.”
Ruiz didn’t react.
“How much did you keep?”
She whispered.
“Maybe fifteen thousand.”
Shawn closed his eyes.
Fifteen thousand.
He had sent seventy-two.
Ruiz continued.
“Who forged your father’s signature?”
Brenda said nothing.
“Was it you?”
“No.”
“Kyle?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
Brenda looked directly at the mirror.
Somehow, Shawn felt like she knew he was behind it.
“There’s an attorney.”
Ruiz leaned forward.
“Name.”
“Malcolm Reed.”
Shawn knew that name.
Everyone in the county did.
Reed’s firm handled estates, farm sales, business deals.
He served on the hospital board.
He sponsored the Christmas parade.
He had shaken Shawn’s hand at his high school graduation.
Ruiz’s face became unreadable.
“Malcolm Reed prepared the forged power of attorney?”
Brenda nodded.
“He told me it was legal.”
“You knew your father didn’t sign it.”
“I knew.”
Ruiz sat back.
“There it is.”
“I was desperate!”
“So you stole their property?”
“I didn’t know Kyle was going to lock them downstairs!”
“But you left them there.”
Brenda collapsed into tears.
“I was scared of him.”
Shawn pushed open the interview-room door.
Ruiz stood.
“Shawn.”
“I need one minute.”
Brenda looked up.
Shawn stared at her.
“Did you ever bring Mom her medicine?”
She covered her face.
“Sometimes.”
“Did you hear Dad asking for help?”
“Yes.”
“Did you walk upstairs and decorate that Christmas tree while they were locked below you?”
Her crying stopped.
Shawn’s voice cracked.
“Answer me.”
“Yes.”
That hurt worse than the money.
Worse than the forged documents.
“You hung Christmas lights over their heads while they were begging you to let them out.”
Brenda looked at him.
“I hated myself every day.”
“Not enough to open the door.”
She flinched.
Shawn turned away.
“Wait.”
He stopped.
“There’s something else.”
He looked back.
Brenda whispered.
“Kyle wasn’t the one giving the orders.”
Shawn slowly faced her.
“Who was?”
She shook her head.
“If I say his name, he’ll kill me.”
Ruiz stepped forward.
“Brenda, you’re already in protective custody.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You think that matters?”
She looked directly at Shawn.
“You already know his name.”
Shawn thought of the forged documents.
The property deal.
The hospital connection.
His voice went cold.
“Malcolm Reed.”
May you like
Brenda nodded.
Then the fire alarm began screaming.
