Chapter 10 - TEN MINUTES
Trevor Grant didn’t answer his phone.
His house was empty.
His car was gone.
By midnight, police had issued an alert.
I sat in an interview room with Ryan across from me.
For the first time since Daniel died, I truly looked at him.
He seemed older.
Smaller.
Broken.
“You threatened him.”
Ryan nodded.
“Yes.”
“You stole from him.”
“Yes.”
“You knew Trevor was dangerous.”
“I suspected.”
“And you said nothing.”
He looked at the floor.
“I thought Trevor was helping me.”
“You keep saying that.”
“I know.”
“How?”
Ryan swallowed.
“When Daniel discovered the first missing transfer, Trevor said he could delay the internal review. He told me he’d cover the numbers until I repaid it.”
“But he didn’t.”
“No. He created more fake transfers and attached my approvals.”
“He made it look like you stole all of it.”
Ryan nodded.
“And when Daniel figured that out?”
“Trevor panicked.”
“And you threatened Daniel for him.”
“No.”
His voice hardened.
“I threatened Daniel because I was terrified.”
“That doesn’t make it better.”
“I know.”
At least he kept saying that.
No excuses.
Just shame.
“What did you mean when you told Daniel he’d lose Madison?”
Ryan looked sick.
“I told him if he reported me, I would tell the board he had approved the transfers. I thought I could destroy his reputation.”
My hands clenched.
“You were willing to ruin your own brother.”
“Yes.”
“And now he’s dead.”
Ryan’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
For the first time, he cried.
Not dramatically.
Just silently.
Tears running down his face while he stared at the floor.
“I loved him.”
I hated him for saying it.
Because I believed him.
That was the worst part.
People could love you and still destroy your life.
Claire entered.
“They found something.”
She placed the flash drive from our basement on the table.
“Daniel saved a second audio recording.”
We listened.
Footsteps.
Daniel groaning.
Evelyn crying.
Then Trevor’s voice.
“Give me the phone.”
Evelyn:
“He needs an ambulance.”
Trevor:
“No. He needs to stay quiet.”
Daniel weakly said:
“Sarah…”
My entire body locked.
Then Trevor:
“Ryan already threatened him. Everyone will look at Ryan.”
Evelyn:
“He’s breathing.”
Trevor:
“Not for long.”
I stopped breathing.
There was a struggle.
A choking sound.
Evelyn screaming:
“What are you doing?”
Trevor:
“Fixing this.”
The recording ended.
Claire looked at me.
“Daniel had an automatic recorder running in the basement.”
I could not speak.
Ryan whispered:
“How long?”
“What?”
“How long was Daniel alive after he fell?”
Claire hesitated.
Then answered.
“Based on timestamps?”
My chest tightened.
“Ten minutes.”
Ten minutes.
Daniel had been alive.
Ten minutes.
Long enough for someone to call 911.
Long enough for an ambulance to have a chance.
Long enough for his mother to save him.
Instead, she let Trevor walk downstairs.
I stood.
“I want her arrested.”
Claire nodded slowly.
“The police are questioning her now.”
“No. I want her arrested.”
Ryan whispered, “Sarah—”
I looked at him.
“Your mother watched mine become a widow.”
He went silent.
Claire’s phone rang.
She answered.
Listened.
Then looked at me.
“What?”
“They found Trevor’s car.”
“Where?”
“Near the interstate.”
“Is he inside?”
“No.”
“Then where is he?”
Claire’s face tightened.
“He took another vehicle.”
“What vehicle?”
She swallowed.
“Your mother-in-law’s.”
Ryan stood.
“No.”
My heart started pounding.
“Where’s Evelyn?”
May you like
Claire’s voice went quiet.
“Police can’t find her either.”
