Chapter 7 - The Trap)
The police could not arrest Gary for following them.
Not yet.
He claimed he had been worried about his wife and children.
He claimed the swerving had been caused by traffic.
He smiled while explaining it.
Brooke watched a state trooper listen.
Gary was good at becoming reasonable the moment strangers entered the room.
Laura refused to go home that night.
For the first time.
They stayed in a hotel near Easton.
Adam did not come.
Brooke asked why.
Laura said, “Because Gary can’t know we’re working together.”
Brooke laughed.
“Pretty sure he knows.”
“He suspects.”
“That’s different?”
“Yes.”
At midnight, Laura finally explained the plan.
Gary believed Laura still needed him financially.
He believed she was afraid to expose the fraud because some accounts carried her signature.
He believed she would return home and sign the trust transfer to keep Brooke and Ethan out of court.
She would pretend he was right.
Meanwhile, Adam’s attorney and a Franklin County investigator were preparing an emergency request to freeze the accounts.
The green case contained enough evidence to reopen parts of Adam’s original case.
But they needed Gary to confirm one thing.
Intent.
“He already threatened you,” Brooke said.
“Not clearly enough.”
“So you want him to threaten us again?”
“No.”
“That sounds exactly like what you want.”
Laura looked ashamed.
“I want him to admit the documents are forged.”
“And if he doesn’t?”
“Then we leave.”
“Why not leave now?”
“Because if we run without freezing the trust, Gary can move everything.”
“I don’t care about money.”
“It isn’t only money.”
Laura opened her bag.
She removed a photocopy from the green case.
It was a deed.
Brooke recognized their address.
“What is that?”
“Gary transferred this house.”
“To who?”
“You.”
Brooke stared.
“This house belongs to me?”
“Technically, a trust in your name.”
“Why?”
“To hide assets.”
“Then let him have it.”
“It’s evidence.”
Brooke looked toward Ethan sleeping in the next bed.
“He’s evidence too.”
Laura flinched.
“I know.”
“Do you?”
“Yes.”
“Because Grandma was right. You freeze.”
Laura lowered her head.
Brooke immediately felt cruel.
She did not take it back.
After a long silence, Laura said, “I froze nine years ago too.”
“When Dad was arrested.”
“Yes.”
“Did Gary threaten you then?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
“Because I believed him.”
Brooke sat down.
“Gary showed me documents. Bank records. Messages that looked like they came from Adam.”
“He forged them.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You testified.”
“Yes.”
“And Dad went away.”
“Yes.”
Laura’s voice broke.
“By the time I realized something was wrong, Gary had become part of our lives. He had access to everything. School information. Accounts. Medical records.”
“You married him.”
“I did.”
“Why?”
“Because I thought he saved us.”
That sentence explained more than Brooke wanted it to.
Gary had built himself into the solution to a disaster he created.
Laura continued.
“When your grandmother began asking questions, Gary became controlling. Slowly.”
Brooke knew how that happened.
One rule.
Then another.
Then another.
Laura looked toward Ethan.
“I kept thinking I could gather enough proof first.”
“And tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow I choose you.”
Brooke wanted to believe her.
She was not ready.
The following afternoon they returned home.
Gary was waiting.
He acted relieved.
“I’ve been worried sick.”
Brooke almost laughed.
Laura hugged him.
That shocked Brooke more.
Gary glanced over Laura’s shoulder.
His eyes found Brooke.
Laura whispered something into his ear.
Gary relaxed.
“Kids, go upstairs.”
Brooke did not.
Laura nodded slightly.
Part of the plan.
Brooke took Ethan upstairs.
At five, Gary called them down.
He had ordered pizza.
A folder sat beside Laura.
Everything looked normal.
Brooke felt sick.
Gary smiled at Ethan.
“How’s the science project?”
Ethan did not answer.
“Ethan,” Laura said softly.
“Fine.”
Gary nodded.
“Good.”
He looked toward Brooke.
“And you?”
“Fantastic.”
“Attitude.”
“Gary,” Laura warned.
He smiled again.
“Right.”
After dinner, Gary opened the folder.
“Sign.”
Laura held the pen.
“Explain it once more.”
Gary sighed.
“We discussed this.”
“I want to hear it.”
“You give me administrative authority over the trust until Ethan turns eighteen.”
“And Brooke?”
“Her portion gets moved into the property holding account.”
“Why?”
“Tax reasons.”
“That isn’t what you said last week.”
Gary’s eyes hardened.
Brooke noticed the old phone near the living room.
Adam had told Laura to call before anything escalated.
Laura had not.
Gary leaned closer.
“You want the children protected?”
“Yes.”
“Then sign.”
“Protected from what?”
Gary glanced at Brooke.
“From finding out certain things.”
“Like?”
“Laura.”
“What?”
“Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
“Make me say something we both regret.”
Brooke saw Laura’s hand trembling.
Freeze.
Grandma’s word.
Gary saw it too.
He smiled.
Then Ethan accidentally knocked his water glass over.
The water spread across the table.
Gary slammed his palm down.
Ethan jumped.
“It was an accident!”
Gary stood.
Brooke moved instantly.
“Don’t.”
Gary looked at her.
“Stay out of it.”
Ethan backed toward the counter.
Gary pointed.
“You.”
He opened a drawer.
Brooke’s heart stopped.
The belt.
Gary kept it there after using it to threaten Ethan two weeks earlier.
Laura went pale.
This was not part of the plan.
“Gary,” she said.
He removed the belt.
Brooke stepped forward.
“Put it down.”
Gary looked at her.
Then at Laura.
“You wanted an explanation?”
He snapped the belt against the table.
Ethan screamed.
Gary pointed toward the spilled water.
“Children need consequences.”
May you like
Brooke rushed toward him.
And thirty-six hours after finding Grandma’s hidden letter, the moment Brooke would remember for the rest of her life began.
