Chapter 14 - The Woman They Called Confused
Margaret Hayes went on television the next morning.
Her lawyer objected.
Federal investigators objected.
Nicole’s attorney objected.
Margaret ignored all of them.
She sat across from investigative journalist Caroline West.
No makeup except powder over the fading bruise on her cheek.
No attempt to hide the split lip.
Caroline began carefully.
“Mrs. Hayes, Senator Calder suggested yesterday that you have experienced cognitive instability.”
Margaret nodded.
“I heard.”
“How do you respond?”
“I remember my daughter putting me in a dog cage.”
Caroline said nothing.
“I remember my son-in-law smearing dog food on my face. I remember the medication found in my blood. I remember the forged deed. I remember the bank box my husband hid for decades.”
Margaret looked into the camera.
“And I remember Senator Calder’s name appearing in a ledger from 1989.”
The interview aired nationally.
Within two hours Calder’s office issued another denial.
Within four, three former Black Pine residents contacted investigators.
Within six, a retired state environmental employee produced copies of groundwater reports.
By evening, Senator Calder’s chief of staff resigned.
Nathan changed his plea strategy.
Victor requested counsel from outside the state.
And Nicole asked to see Margaret.
Margaret agreed.
The meeting occurred at the county detention facility.
Nicole wore orange.
Margaret hated seeing her daughter in jail.
She did not hate the jail.
That distinction mattered.
Nicole sat behind glass.
“You looked good on TV.”
Margaret almost smiled.
“I looked bruised.”
“You looked like Dad when he was mad.”
Margaret’s face softened despite herself.
Nicole saw it.
“Mom…”
“No.”
Nicole nodded.
“I know.”
For a minute neither spoke.
Then Nicole said, “Nathan told them everything.”
“What version?”
“The one where I planned it.”
“Did you?”
“Some of it.”
Margaret waited.
Nicole swallowed.
“I forged the first signature.”
“I know.”
“I opened the online account.”
“I suspected.”
“I moved your suitcase.”
“I know.”
Nicole looked ashamed.
“I was going to make it look like you chose assisted living.”
Margaret felt something cold pass through her.
“How?”
“We found a facility in Ohio.”
“Ohio?”
“Nathan said distance would help.”
“Help whom?”
Nicole looked down.
Margaret already knew.
“You were going to send me away.”
“Yes.”
“And sell the house.”
“Yes.”
Margaret closed her eyes briefly.
Nicole whispered, “I’m sorry.”
“Do you know what sorry is useful for?”
Nicole shook her head.
“Knowing where to begin changing.”
Nicole began crying.
Margaret continued.
“But it is not a time machine.”
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
Margaret studied her.
“What did Nathan promise?”
Nicole laughed bitterly.
“Ten million.”
“For you?”
“For us.”
“And you believed him.”
“I wanted to.”
“Why?”
Nicole stared through the glass.
“Because every time I walked into this house, I felt like I had failed.”
Margaret frowned.
Nicole continued.
“You and Dad paid the mortgage. You saved us from foreclosure. You helped with everything. Nathan hated it.”
“So you punished me for helping.”
Nicole closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The answer hurt because it was honest.
Margaret nodded slowly.
“Good.”
Nicole looked confused.
“What?”
“That is the first true thing you’ve said without blaming someone else.”
Nicole cried harder.
Margaret placed her palm against the glass.
After a moment Nicole raised hers.
Their hands did not touch.
There was glass between them.
There needed to be.
“Mom.”
“Yes?”
“I found something before they arrested Nathan.”
“What?”
“A voice recorder.”
Margaret’s pulse changed.
“Whose?”
“Dad’s.”
“Where?”
“Nathan had it.”
“Why?”
“He found it in Carl’s things.”
Nathan’s father.
Margaret leaned closer.
“What is on it?”
“I heard one recording.”
“What?”
Nicole looked terrified.
“Dad talking to William Calder.”
“When?”
“2003.”
“What did they say?”
Nicole swallowed.
“Calder told Dad Samuel’s page had resurfaced.”
Margaret stared.
“Where?”
“Dad asked the same question.”
“And?”
“Calder said Thomas had it.”
Port Clyde.
Margaret’s heart hammered.
Nicole continued.
“Then Dad said something strange.”
“What?”
“He said, ‘If Thomas dies, Margaret gets everything.’”
Margaret went still.
“Everything what?”
“I don’t know.”
Then Nicole said the sentence that changed the investigation again.
“Calder answered, ‘Margaret isn’t the problem. The girl is.’”
Margaret’s breath stopped.
“What girl?”
Nicole shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Margaret looked through the glass.
May you like
Nicole whispered:
“But Dad did.”
