Chapter 8 - The Recording
“No,” I said.
Malcolm looked at Chloe. “This affects your mother’s foundation and hundreds of employees.”
“Then Richard should stop making threats,” she answered.
Malcolm rubbed his forehead. “I haven’t agreed to anything. I came because I want to know what’s true.”
I showed him the affidavit and Valerie’s letters. He read them on the sidewalk, with parents walking past us to their cars.
“I didn’t know about these,” he said at last.
“Neither did I.”
Malcolm said his attorneys would suspend work on the sale. He left without trying to persuade Chloe to come with him.
That night, my mother asked to meet me alone. I chose a diner near Owen’s office. She arrived with a small digital recorder in her purse.
“I kept this,” she said, sliding it across the table.
“What is it?”
“A conversation with your father. After Valerie came to the house.”
I stared at her. “You recorded him?”
“I was afraid he would involve me in whatever he was doing. I told myself I needed to know exactly what he’d said.”
“Did you listen to it?”
“Yes.”
“Then you knew.”
She gripped her coffee cup. “I knew he was keeping the letters. He said he would speak to you when he had proof.”
“And when Lucy was born?”
“I asked him again. He said the test was done.”
I pressed play.
Richard’s voice came through first. She brought a picture, Evelyn. Carter will go back to her if he sees it.
My mother’s voice followed. Then let him decide.
We have a deal being negotiated. He can decide after it closes.
The recording ended with a scrape of chairs. It was enough to establish that Richard had intercepted the pregnancy news. It also told me my mother had known, and had gone home without calling me.
“Why bring it now?” I asked.
“Because I should have given it to you three years ago.”
I handed the recorder back. “Give it to Maya and Owen. They’ll preserve the file.”
As she reached for it, her phone rang. She looked at the screen and flinched.
It was Richard.
May you like
She let the call go to voicemail. A message appeared seconds later.
I know you have the recording. If you give it to Carter, I’ll tell him what you signed.
