Chapter 12 - The Son They Protected
Robert’s confession gave police enough to charge Jason with Aaron Pike’s murder.
Margaret was charged with conspiracy.
Attempted homicide.
Kidnapping.
Evidence tampering.
Financial crimes.
And obstruction.
Still, neither of them would reveal Jason’s location.
Robert claimed he no longer knew.
Margaret smiled through her first court appearance.
She wore a gray jail uniform.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
Yet she looked completely composed.
When she saw me, she tilted her head.
As if I were the disappointing one.
Her attorney argued that she was an elderly mother manipulated by her son.
Margaret said nothing.
But her eyes never left mine.
The judge denied bail.
As deputies led her away, she spoke for the first time.
“You should have stayed sick.”
The courtroom erupted.
Laura moved between us.
I did not look away.
“No.”
I said it clearly.
“You should have learned to lose.”
Margaret’s smile disappeared.
That afternoon, Sophie gave police another statement.
She admitted Jason had called her after the rescue.
He told her to say I had threatened him.
He promised that if she helped, Margaret would forgive her.
“Did you agree?” Laura asked.
“For ten minutes.”
My stomach turned.
“What did you do?”
“I recorded a statement.”
Sophie placed her phone on the table.
In the video, she said I had become obsessed with stopping the trip.
She claimed I had hidden my medication before.
She claimed I often lied.
“Why didn’t police receive it?” I asked.
“I couldn’t send it.”
“But you recorded it.”
“I was terrified.”
“You were willing to destroy me because you were terrified.”
She began to cry.
“I deleted it.”
“Nothing is ever deleted,” Laura said.
Police recovered the file.
Jason had a copy.
He planned to release it if Sophie turned against him.
Another piece of his story.
Another weapon.
Sophie looked at me.
“I know you may never forgive me.”
I stayed silent.
“I just want to help stop him.”
“Then stop lying.”
“I am.”
“No.”
I stepped closer.
“You still know something.”
Her face changed.
Laura noticed too.
“What are you hiding, Sophie?”
She shook her head.
“Nothing.”
“Sophie.”
“I said nothing.”
I watched her hands.
She kept rubbing her left wrist.
A nervous habit from childhood.
“What did Jason give you?” I asked.
Her eyes widened.
“What?”
“Before the trip.”
“He gave you something to hold.”
“No.”
“You are lying.”
She stood.
“I can’t do this.”
Laura blocked the door.
“Yes, you can.”
Sophie began shaking.
“He gave me a key.”
“To what?”
“I don’t know.”
“Where is it?”
“I threw it away.”
“Where?”
“In France.”
“Another lie.”
Sophie covered her mouth.
Then she reached beneath her blouse.
A small silver key hung from a chain around her neck.
Jason had told her never to remove it.
The key opened a safe deposit box.
The box was registered under a false name.
Inside were cash bundles.
A passport with Jason’s photograph and a different identity.
My father’s original letter.
And a sealed envelope addressed to me.
I opened it with trembling hands.
The letter was written by my father.
Emily, if you are reading this, someone in the Carter family has already found the ledger.
Trust Daniel Harper.
Do not trust Robert.
And never drink anything Margaret prepares.
I looked up.
“Margaret?”
Laura took the letter.
My father had known her.
Known what she was capable of.
At the bottom of the envelope was one more item.
A photograph.
May you like
Margaret stood beside my father’s damaged car.
The photograph had been taken the night before he died.
