Chapter 17 - THE PRICE OF THE TRUTH
Rocco Bellini spent three hours giving statements.
He turned over the ledger, Sofia’s recordings, Carlo’s files, and every corporate record Gary could retrieve.
His attorneys warned him that cooperation would not erase his own crimes.
“I know,” Rocco said.
Audrey sat outside the interview room and listened to the man who had terrified half the city finally stop negotiating with the truth.
Preston appeared with his arm in a sling.
He stayed across the hall.
“I’m not asking you to forgive me.”
“Good.”
“I gave a statement too.”
Audrey looked at him.
He had admitted disabling the camera, signing unread documents, and concealing what he knew about the trust.
He also gave investigators every message Brenda had ever sent him.
“I should have protected you before I knew how bad it was,” he said.
“Yes.”
“I loved you.”
Audrey’s eyes filled.
“Maybe you did.”
That answer hurt him more than anger.
“But love without courage left me alone in a room with your mother.”
Preston nodded.
“I know.”
She removed her wedding ring.
He did not try to stop her.
Across town, Brenda and Carlo were formally charged.
Marco agreed to testify.
Kessler surrendered his medical license while prosecutors reviewed his role in Thomas Hale’s death.
The case expanded by the hour.
Then Gary received a call from the prosecutor.
His expression changed.
“What?” Rocco asked.
“There’s a problem with the trust.”
Audrey stood.
“What kind of problem?”
Gary looked at her stomach.
“Carlo filed a secret amendment last year.”
“If a court accepts it, the child’s thirty-one percent goes to a holding company controlled by Preston.”
Preston went pale.
“I never signed that.”
Gary answered quietly.
May you like
“You did.”
“Your signature is notarized.”
