Chapter 13 - BRANDON BREAKS
Brandon was arrested two days after I left the hospital.
Not for murder.
Not yet.
For financial fraud.
Forgery.
Conspiracy.
Obstruction.
Attempted evidence destruction.
And charges connected to my fall.
His attorney arranged an interview.
Brandon wanted a deal.
The first thing he asked was whether I was alive.
Mason stared at him.
“You know she’s alive.”
“I mean okay.”
“She has fractured ribs and a broken wrist.”
Brandon looked down.
“I didn’t mean for her to go over.”
Mason remained silent.
Brandon continued.
“I pushed her away.”
“With both hands?”
“Yes.”
“Toward a balcony?”
“I wasn’t thinking.”
“Your mother had loosened the railing.”
Brandon’s head snapped up.
“What?”
For the first time, Mason believed his surprise.
“You didn’t know?”
“No.”
Mason watched him.
“Interesting.”
Brandon covered his face.
“Oh, God.”
Then he started talking.
Margaret controlled the foundation fraud from the beginning.
Brandon joined later.
At first, he justified it as borrowing.
Then came the house.
Rebecca.
The offshore accounts.
Every lie required another.
“Did you know about Thomas Hale?”
Mason asked.
Brandon went silent.
“Did you know Margaret was manipulating his medication?”
“No.”
“Did you suspect?”
Brandon’s eyes filled.
“I knew she was angry with him.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
Brandon looked away.
Mason waited.
Finally Brandon whispered.
“One night she said Thomas wouldn’t be a problem much longer.”
“When?”
“Three days before he died.”
“And you did nothing?”
“I thought she meant the board.”
Mason stared at him.
“Did you believe that?”
Brandon did not answer.
Then Mason asked about my life insurance.
Brandon admitted authorizing the application.
He claimed Margaret told him it was standard estate planning.
“Fifty million dollars?”
Mason asked.
Brandon lowered his head.
“I knew it was wrong.”
“Did you intend to kill Claire?”
“No.”
“Did you know your mother wanted Claire dead?”
“No.”
“Then why were you leaving the country three days after Claire’s planned accident?”
Brandon started crying.
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“My mother.”
That answer surprised everyone.
Brandon looked toward the mirrored wall.
“She had evidence on me.”
“What kind?”
“Everything.”
He swallowed.
“She told me if I backed out, she would make sure I went to prison alone.”
“And Claire?”
Brandon’s voice broke.
“She said Claire was the only person who could stop us.”
Mason leaned forward.
“And when Claire stood on the balcony holding proof?”
May you like
Brandon closed his eyes.
“I became exactly what my mother needed me to be.”
