Chapter 13 - The Storage Unit
I did not go alone.
I went with Detective Lane, Monica, and two officers waiting out of sight.
Diane had spent years assuming I would protect the family from consequences.
That version of me had left her wedding ring beside Ryan's plate.
Storage unit 317 stood open when I arrived.
Diane waited inside beside a folding table.
The black document case sat on top.
"You brought police," she said.
"You assaulted me. You stole trust documents. What did you expect?"
Her mouth tightened.
"I expected you to think about Ryan."
"I finally am."
She pushed the case toward me.
"Your father died because he couldn't leave things alone."
Detective Lane, hidden beyond the row, was recording everything.
I kept my voice steady.
"Did you kill him?"
Diane's eyes flashed.
"No."
"Were you there?"
"Yes."
"Why did you lie?"
She laughed bitterly.
"Because Charles would've lost the company. Victor had moved money. I approved transfers I shouldn't have approved. David found out. He threatened to report us."
"Us?"
"Victor and me."
There it was.
Not murder.
But conspiracy.
"What happened on the road?"
Her face changed.
"David left angry. Victor followed him. I went home. The next morning Victor told me David's car went over the guardrail."
"And you believed him?"
"I chose to."
That answer made me colder than a confession would have.
A noise came from behind the unit.
Ryan stepped out holding a metal gas can.
"Mom, shut up."
Diane spun around.
"Ryan?"
He looked wild, exhausted.
"Give me the documents."
I backed away.
"Ryan, put the can down."
"You froze everything. You destroyed me."
"You forged my name."
"Because you had money just sitting there!"
He kicked the folding table.
The document case hit the floor.
May you like
Then Victor Sloan appeared at the far end of the row and shouted one word.
"Burn it!"
