Chapter 11 - THE PRICE OF BEING FAMILY
Vivian’s attorney requested a meeting.
Daniel almost refused.
Martin advised him to listen only with counsel present and the investigators informed.
“She may have information they need,” he said. “Listening doesn’t mean forgiving.”
They met in a small conference room at the detention facility.
Vivian wore county-issued clothes.
Without the dress and diamonds, she looked older.
Daniel was ashamed that part of him still remembered teaching her to skip stones.
Then he remembered the rug.
“I didn’t send that threat,” she said before he sat.
“Your company paid for it.”
“Ruth had access.”
“Then explain that to Detective Bell.”
Vivian looked at Martin.
“I wanted to speak to my brother.”
“You are,” Daniel said. “This is how it happens now.”
Her lawyer placed a hand on the table.
“We’re here to clarify certain facts.”
“Then start with my son.”
Vivian’s eyes filled.
“I thought Ruth would scare him and let him out.”
“And when she didn’t?”
“She said we’d all go to prison if he talked.”
“So you left him.”
“I was going to open it after the police left.”
Daniel stared at her.
“You were waiting for the people looking for him to leave.”
Vivian’s mouth trembled.
There was no answer that could survive hearing the sentence aloud.
Finally, she said, “You don’t understand what Dad did to me.”
Martin shifted, but Daniel lifted a hand.
“Tell me.”
“He gave you chances. College. Help with your first house. Every mistake you made was something to learn from. Every mistake I made was proof I was irresponsible.”
“So you stole from him.”
“He owed me.”
The room went quiet.
Vivian seemed to realize what she had said.
“I didn’t mean—”
“Yes,” Daniel said. “You did.”
She wiped her face.
“Ruth started moving money before I knew. By the time I understood, my name was on things.”
“You could have told me.”
“And watched you look at me like this?”
Daniel leaned forward.
“My son scratched through his fingernail while you stood above him.”
Vivian began sobbing.
He waited until she could hear him.
“You don’t get to make my face the worst thing that happened to you.”
Her lawyer asked for a break.
Daniel stood.
Vivian reached across the table.
“There’s another account.”
Martin stopped.
“What account?”
“The money from the house. Not all of it went to Ruth.”
“Where is it?”
Vivian looked at Daniel with sudden urgency.
“I’ll tell you. But I need something first.”
Daniel’s expression went cold.
“Even now?”
“I need you to tell the prosecutor I helped.”
“No,” he said. “You need to help because a little boy almost died.”
As he reached the door, she called after him.
May you like
“The transfer is scheduled for Friday.”
Friday was tomorrow.
