Chapter 28 - The Man Who Came BackCharles returned voluntarily.
He walked into the Attorney General's office with two attorneys.
His strategy was simple.
Blame Leonard.
Charles admitted signing the environmental authorization.
But claimed Leonard ordered everything.
He denied ordering violence against Julianne.
Then prosecutors showed him the handwritten note.
Charles said it was forged.
Experts disagreed.
The writing matched dozens of business records.
Still, Charles remained calm.
“You have a note,” he said. “You don't have a murder.”
Emma sat behind the observation glass.
Technically he was right.
Julianne survived the crash.
Her eventual death resulted from medical complications.
Proving Charles legally caused it would be difficult.
Then Graham Holt requested another interview.
He was ready to cooperate.
For immunity from certain charges, Graham offered the final missing piece.
A recording.
Charles's voice.
Made the night before the crash.
Graham had recorded business calls for years as insurance.
On the tape Charles said:
“If she reaches Adrian, we're finished.”
Graham asked:
“What do you want done?”
Charles answered:
May you like
“Make sure she never reaches him.”
For the first time, Charles Vane stopped smiling.
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