Chapter 9 - THE FLASH DRIVE
Police reached the house before Frank entered.
By the time Detective Ruiz arrived, he was gone.
Barbara was also missing.
Bradley sat on the front steps looking less like my husband and more like a frightened child.
I watched from the car.
Rachel sat beside me.
"You don't need to speak to him."
"I know."
"Do you want to?"
"No."
But I got out anyway.
Bradley stood when he saw me.
"Maddie."
"Where's the flash drive?"
His face fell.
Not because I was cruel.
Because I didn't ask if he was okay.
He led Ruiz to his home office.
I stayed in the hallway.
That used to be my hallway.
The framed wedding photograph still hung near the stairs.
Bradley and I smiling under white roses.
I couldn't look at it.
Ruiz returned holding a small black drive inside an evidence bag.
Bradley stared at me.
"There's enough on there to explain things."
"Explain?"
"Not excuse."
At least he understood that much.
"What did Barbara make you do?"
He closed his eyes.
"Move money."
"How much?"
"I don't know exactly."
"Try."
"Maybe nine hundred thousand."
Rachel inhaled sharply.
I stepped closer.
"You stole nine hundred thousand dollars?"
"It wasn't supposed to stay gone."
I actually laughed.
"That's your defense?"
"No."
"Good."
"Mom said it was temporary."
"Your mother always says something."
He flinched.
I continued.
"Did you forge my signature?"
"No."
"Did you know it was forged?"
Silence.
"Bradley."
"Eventually."
"How eventually?"
"After the second loan draw."
My throat tightened.
"And you kept taking the money."
He looked down.
"Yes."
"Did you change the postnup?"
"No."
"Did you know it had been changed?"
Another silence.
"Yes."
My marriage died again.
Apparently it could die more than once.
"Did you plan the pool?"
He looked at me.
"No."
I stared at him.
"Think carefully."
"I knew Mom wanted you angry."
"That isn't what I asked."
"I didn't know she wanted anything specific to happen."
"You told Trevor and Mason to grab me."
"I was drunk."
"You pushed me."
"I know."
"You ripped down the camera."
"I panicked."
"You told me to hand over my phone."
"Mom said you'd destroy all of us."
I shook my head.
"No, Bradley."
"You destroyed yourself."
He started crying.
I had seen him cry before.
This time, it did nothing to me.
"Maddie, I loved you."
"Maybe."
"I still do."
"No."
He looked stunned.
"You don't get to call this love."
His shoulders dropped.
Detective Ruiz returned.
"We need Bradley inside."
"Why?"
She looked at him.
"We found several recordings on the drive."
Bradley turned pale.
"What recordings?"
Ruiz studied him.
"Conversations."
"I didn't make recordings."
"Then somebody else did."
Rachel moved closer.
"Can we hear them?"
"Not yet."
Ruiz looked at Bradley.
"But one appears to involve you and Barbara discussing Mrs. West."
Bradley's mouth opened.
No words came.
Ruiz continued.
"The date is three days before the pool incident."
I stared at him.
"You said you didn't plan it."
"I didn't."
"Then what's on the recording?"
"I don't know."
Ruiz led him inside.
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
"Maddie?"
It was Daniel.
"Daniel."
"I'm okay."
My knees nearly weakened.
"Where are you?"
"At a motel outside Albany."
"Why?"
"I panicked."
"Police are looking for you."
"I know."
"You need to call them."
"I will."
"Now."
"I need to tell you something first."
Rachel turned toward me.
Daniel continued.
"I know where the original postnup is."
My breath stopped.
"Where?"
"Susan had it."
"Our former controller?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Bradley gave it to her."
My eyes narrowed.
"Why would Bradley give my company controller a marital agreement?"
"Because Susan wasn't only working for you."
"Who was she working for?"
"Barbara."
The answer shouldn't have surprised me.
It did.
Daniel continued.
"She copied documents."
"What documents?"
"Shareholder agreements."
"Loan files."
"Your signature records."
My stomach turned.
"Signature records?"
"Anything they could use to make forged documents look authentic."
I closed my eyes.
"Where is Susan now?"
"I don't know."
"You said she was taking care of her mother."
"Her mother died four years ago."
I opened my eyes.
Rachel was watching my face.
I whispered.
"What?"
Daniel answered.
"She lied about why she left."
"Why did she actually leave?"
"Because Barbara paid her."
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know."
Then another voice spoke behind Daniel.
A man's voice.
Calm.
Low.
"That's enough."
Daniel stopped breathing.
"Daniel?"
Silence.
"Daniel."
The call disconnected.
I stared at the screen.
Then a text arrived.
Unknown number.
HE TALKED TOO MUCH.
A photograph followed.
May you like
Daniel was sitting in a motel chair.
And Frank Delaney stood behind him.
