Chapter 14 - My Son's Voice
Mara took possession of the drive under a documented chain of custody. We did not plug an unknown device into the office network. Her forensic consultant copied it in a controlled environment and checked the files for tampering.
The recording was from a meeting two weeks earlier. I heard Vanessa say, “Your mother will never sign away control while she's thinking clearly.”
Then Daniel answered, “She trusts me. If I tell her it's a refinancing, she might not read it.”
I covered my mouth.
Vanessa laughed. “Or we can make it look like she's already signed. June will handle the seal.”
Daniel did not object. He asked, “How long before we can put the money back?”
No scream came out of me. That was the strange part. I could hear Mara breathing, the clock clicking, a bus passing outside. My whole world had broken, yet the room remained ordinary.
“Did you know?” Mara asked softly.
“I knew he'd been weak,” I said. “I didn't know he'd planned it.”
Other files suggested Daniel and Vanessa had moved management-company funds into personal spending accounts. Mara made no final accusations without the bank records, but the amounts were large enough to endanger payroll.
I remembered his little hands gripping my apron while Thomas lay in the hospital. I'd promised his father that our son would never have to face life alone. I had confused that promise with protecting him from the consequences of his choices.
My phone rang. Daniel. I answered once.
“Mom, are you there?”
“I heard your voice.”
He began to cry. “I was trying to save my marriage.”
“You were willing to steal my life's work to do it.”
May you like
He had no answer.
Then he said, “Vanessa knows I gave you the drive. She said she's going to court in the morning to prove you aren't competent.”
