Chapter 14 - Monday
Derek turned himself in that afternoon.
Not because he suddenly grew a conscience. Because Laura sent his attorney thirty seconds of the recording and asked whether he preferred to arrive voluntarily.
He did.
In the interview room, Derek looked ten years older.
"What was supposed to happen Monday?" I asked.
His lawyer started to object.
Derek spoke anyway.
"The board meeting."
"What about it?"
"Lucas had enough shareholders nervous about the family trust. Vanessa was supposed to file for emergency guardianship that morning. Caleb would notify the board that your fitness was under legal challenge."
"And then?"
"Lucas would offer the restructuring as a way to stabilize voting control."
Laura leaned forward. "The $1.6 million transfer?"
"Legal fees. Consulting. Payoffs. I don't know all of it."
"Why the staged alcohol and pills?" I asked.
Derek stared at the table.
"Vanessa wanted a police report. She planned to call 911 and say you came home drunk, scared Ella, then passed out."
"I wasn't supposed to be home."
"Exactly. She was going to use your office access records to place you there."
I felt something inside me turn to ice.
"And Ella?"
"She was supposed to repeat the card."
I stood so fast the chair rolled backward.
Laura caught my arm.
"Ethan."
I looked through the observation glass where an officer stood with his back to us.
"My daughter was a prop in a corporate coup."
Derek whispered, "Vanessa said kids recover."
I turned back.
"Did she say that?"
He nodded.
"Exact words?"
"She said, 'Kids recover. Companies don't.'"
Laura's phone buzzed.
May you like
She read the message, then looked at me.
"Vanessa just filed for an emergency protective order against you."
