Chapter 23 - Margaret's Bargain
Margaret requested a meeting.
This time, I accepted.
She looked smaller behind prison glass.
Older.
But her eyes hadn't changed.
“You found the ledger.”
“Yes.”
“Then Richard will come for you.”
“He already has.”
She smiled faintly.
“You still don't understand him.”
“Then explain.”
“I want something first.”
“Of course you do.”
“Andrew.”
My stomach tightened.
“What about him?”
“Protect him.”
I laughed.
“No.”
“Emily—”
“No.”
“He's my son.”
“He helped destroy my leg.”
“He was weak.”
“He was cruel.”
“He was manipulated.”
“He was an adult.”
Margaret's face hardened.
I leaned toward the glass.
“You don't get to rewrite what he did because you're frightened.”
For several seconds, neither of us spoke.
Then Margaret whispered:
“Richard killed his own father.”
I froze.
“What?”
“Victoria thinks her father died from a heart attack.”
“He didn't?”
“Richard poisoned him.”
“Why?”
“Because Sterling wanted out.”
“Out of what?”
“Our arrangement.”
Margaret leaned closer.
“Richard didn't.”
My skin went cold.
“Can you prove it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Margaret smiled.
“I kept everything.”
“Where?”
“You promise Andrew gets transferred somewhere Richard can't reach him.”
I stared at her.
Even now.
Even behind concrete and steel.
Everything was a transaction.
“No deal.”
She blinked.
“No?”
“I'll tell federal investigators what you said. If you want protection for Andrew, earn it.”
Margaret's smile disappeared.
“You've changed.”
“No.”
I stood.
“You just finally met the version of me you couldn't break.”
As I turned away, she hit the glass.
“Emily!”
I stopped.
“The proof is inside the piano.”
I turned.
“What piano?”
May you like
Margaret's face went pale.
“The one Victoria inherited from her father.”
