Chapter 12 - THE LAWYER
James did not run.
That almost made it worse.
He sat across from Detective Ortiz in a hospital conference room and watched Emma’s video without changing expression.
When it ended, I said, “Tell me that’s not you.”
“It’s me.”
Maria stood abruptly.
“You were there?”
James nodded.
“I was sent by Henry.”
“Sent to do what?” I demanded.
“Stop Emma from taking company records to federal investigators.”
I crossed the room so quickly Ortiz stepped between us.
James raised both hands. “I never touched her car. I never wanted her hurt.”
“But you helped my father bury the report.”
“Yes.”
The word was quiet.
Ugly.
Final.
James explained that my father had discovered Grant’s theft months before Emma did. Instead of reporting him, Henry used Grant’s operation to hide illegal payments that protected the company from a separate regulatory scandal.
Emma threatened to expose all of it.
Henry sent James to bring her home and convince her to wait.
Claire was there because she worked for Grant.
“What happened after the crash?” Ortiz asked.
“Henry panicked. He had the report changed because Maria’s presence connected Emma to someone outside the family who knew too much.”
“Did Grant cause the brake failure?”
James looked at me.
“I believe so.”
“Believe?”
“I never had proof.”
Then he reached into his briefcase.
Ortiz’s hand moved toward her weapon.
James stopped.
“It’s only a file.”
Inside were copies of payments my father had made after Emma’s death.
One payment went to Grant.
One to a mechanic.
One to Claire Reynolds.
And one payment—far larger than the others—went to an account in Maria’s name.
I stared at her.
Maria stared back, horrified.
“I never received that money.”
James looked at the account number.
Then his face changed.
“That isn’t Maria’s account.”
“Whose is it?”
May you like
He swallowed.
“Claire’s.”
