Chapter 12
The confrontation happened in Mara’s office.
Grant came because his lawyer wanted to discuss settlement of the business disputes.
Lucinda came because investigators had advised her attorney she could cooperate voluntarily.
Silvio came because Mara allowed it under one condition.
“You speak like a father and a shareholder. Not like an executioner.”
Grant entered last.
He looked at Lucinda.
“So this is what you’re doing?”
Lucinda did not answer.
Grant sat across from Silvio.
“You want me to apologize?”
“I want you to stop lying.”
Grant smiled without humor.
“You’ve spent your life making everyone around you afraid. Now you’re offended somebody used it.”
Silvio did not take the bait.
“Did you tell her eight minutes?”
Grant glanced at Lucinda.
“She agreed to the plan.”
“That wasn’t my question.”
Lucinda spoke.
“You promised me eight.”
Grant turned on her.
“And you locked them in.”
“Yes.”
“You took the key.”
“Yes.”
“You told Ethan he was being punished.”
Lucinda’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
Grant spread his hands.
“Then stop acting like I did this alone.”
Silvio watched his sister absorb it.
Grant was not wrong.
That was what made him dangerous.
He could tell enough truth to hide inside it.
Mara asked about the vehicle temperature check.
Grant said employees shared credentials.
The camera rerouting?
Event security.
The false valet departure?
Operational error.
The missing equipment money?
Accounting disputes.
Every fact had an explanation.
Then Silvio asked one question.
“Why did you say, ‘They’re still alive?’”
Grant looked at him.
“Bad joke.”
“You were looking at two children who’d just come out of a hot car.”
“You had already hit me.”
“Not yet.”
Grant’s expression shifted.
Only slightly.
Lucinda noticed.
“So you remember the order,” she said.
Grant said nothing.
Lucinda leaned forward.
“You told me to wait because Ethan wasn’t sick enough.”
His lawyer interrupted.
“That’s enough.”
Grant stood.
Lucinda stood too.
“What were you protecting?” she asked.
Grant looked at her.
The marriage seemed to disappear between them.
“My company.”
Lucinda’s face changed.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Grant picked up his coat.
Silvio finally understood what his sister had refused to see.
May you like
Grant had not endangered the children to protect Lucinda’s place in the family.
He had used her fear of losing that place to protect money he had already stolen.
