Chapter 12 - Margaret's Choice)
Margaret looked smaller inside the interview room.
No cardigan.
No immaculate living room.
No Robert beside her.
Just a gray detention uniform, tired eyes, and the remains of a woman who had controlled rooms by convincing everyone that discomfort was disrespect.
Claire sat across from her.
Bell remained near the wall.
Margaret's attorney objected to the recording.
Margaret ignored him.
"Play it."
Claire pressed the button.
Static filled the room.
Then Daniel's voice.
"Mom."
Margaret's face collapsed before he said anything else.
Daniel continued.
"If Dad tells you I betrayed the family, ask him what family means."
Margaret closed her eyes.
"If he tells you I was trying to steal, ask him about Northbridge."
Margaret's hands tightened.
"If he tells you Claire is dangerous, remember who raised me to know the difference between danger and disobedience."
Claire watched Margaret.
A tear moved down the older woman's cheek.
Daniel's voice continued.
"I know what you did."
Margaret stopped breathing.
"I know you signed the guardianship papers."
Claire looked at Bell.
Daniel said:
"I know you helped Dad move Sophie's trust."
Margaret's attorney whispered, "Stop the recording."
Margaret shook her head.
"Let it play."
"I also know you tried to stop him once."
Robert had never mentioned that.
Daniel continued.
"You called me from the parking lot in Maryland. You warned me about the meeting. That's why I'm still alive."
Claire felt the room tilt.
Margaret stared at the recorder.
Daniel was alive after the crash because Margaret had helped him.
"If you're hearing this, Mom, you still have one choice left."
Static crackled.
"Tell Claire where Robert keeps the Northbridge names."
The tape clicked off.
Margaret cried silently.
Claire waited.
Finally Margaret whispered.
"I hated you."
Claire said nothing.
"I blamed you when Daniel left the company."
"You mean when he stopped helping you steal."
Margaret flinched.
"He changed after he married you."
"No. He changed because he saw what you were."
Margaret looked away.
Claire leaned forward.
"You threatened Sophie."
"I wanted the key."
"You wanted a child terrified enough to obey you."
"I didn't hurt the dog."
"You wanted her to believe you had."
Margaret's face crumpled.
"I know."
For the first time, she did not defend herself.
Claire felt no victory.
Only exhaustion.
"Where are the Northbridge names?"
Margaret looked toward her attorney.
Then at Bell.
"If I tell you, they'll kill Robert."
Claire stared.
"You think Robert deserves protection?"
"No."
Margaret looked at Claire.
"But Daniel does."
Bell stepped forward.
"Explain."
Margaret took a long breath.
"Robert started moving money twenty years ago. Daniel discovered it. But Northbridge isn't Robert's company."
"Whose?"
"I don't know."
"Then what do you know?"
"They choose beneficiaries."
"Meaning?"
"People whose identities can be used."
Bell's face hardened.
"Children?"
"Sometimes."
"Elderly?"
"Yes."
"Dead people?"
"Yes."
Claire pointed toward herself.
"Why was I active?"
Margaret looked ashamed.
"After Daniel disappeared, they needed leverage."
"Over Robert?"
"Over Daniel."
Claire felt cold.
"They knew he was alive."
"Yes."
"Who?"
"Northbridge."
"Did Robert know?"
"Eventually."
"Why wasn't Sophie taken?"
Margaret looked directly at Claire.
"Because I stopped it."
Claire almost laughed.
"You terrorized her yesterday."
"I know what I became."
"Don't ask me to thank you."
"I'm not."
Margaret wiped her cheek.
"When they wanted guardianship transferred after Daniel's death, Robert had papers prepared. I delayed them."
"Why?"
"Because Daniel called me."
Claire froze.
"When?"
"Five days after the funeral."
Claire gripped the table.
"What did he say?"
"That if I ever loved him, I would keep you and Sophie in that house."
Claire stared.
"You insisted we move in."
"Yes."
"You kept us there."
"Yes."
"Daniel told you to?"
Margaret nodded.
Claire stood.
The cage she had hated might have been another kind of protection.
Or another lie.
"Where are the names?"
Margaret whispered.
"Robert's lake cabin."
Bell called agents immediately.
Margaret continued.
"Behind the stone fireplace. There's a compartment."
"What's inside?"
"A black binder."
Bell turned to leave.
Margaret called after him.
"Agent Bell."
He stopped.
"There's something else."
"What?"
Margaret looked at Claire.
"Daniel wasn't alone when he disappeared."
Claire's pulse accelerated.
"Who was with him?"
May you like
Margaret answered.
"Thomas Vale."
