Chapter 18 - The False Victory
I refused to believe it.
My mother had lied for Dad.
She had signed the competency statement.
She had hidden Ethan’s flash drive.
But Keller’s partner?
No.
Detective Sloan was less sentimental.
“We investigate evidence, not comfort.”
They brought Mom in.
She denied everything.
Then investigators showed her bank records.
For twelve years, a trust in Nevada had paid one annual transfer into an account she controlled.
Fifty thousand dollars.
Every year.
The sender was a company tied to Keller.
My mother broke down.
“I didn’t know it was him.”
I stared at her.
“What did you think it was?”
She looked at me.
“Money from my father.”
“Grandpa died twenty years ago.”
“He left accounts.”
“Mom.”
She started crying.
“I knew something was wrong.”
My voice rose.
“You always know something is wrong after everyone else gets hurt.”
She flinched.
I hated myself for saying it.
I also meant it.
“Did you help Keller?”
“Not knowingly.”
“Did you tell anyone where I was staying?”
“No.”
“Did you tell Dad?”
“No.”
“Carla?”
“No.”
Detective Sloan placed a phone record on the table.
“You called an unknown prepaid number six times after Ethan died.”
Mom stared at it.
“That was Richard.”
Sloan shook her head.
“Richard’s devices are accounted for.”
Mom looked genuinely confused.
“I thought it was him.”
My pulse changed.
“What did the person say?”
“They texted first.”
“What did they want?”
“Updates.”
“About me?”
“Yes.”
“About the twins?”
Mom began crying harder.
“Yes.”
I stood.
“You told a stranger where my babies were?”
“I thought it was your father.”
“That makes it better?”
“No.”
She covered her face.
“No.”
Detective Sloan asked for the number.
Within hours, investigators traced the prepaid phone to a convenience store.
Security footage showed who purchased it.
Not Keller.
Not Dad.
Not Carla.
Thomas Keller’s executive assistant.
A woman named Paige Monroe.
She had worked with him for eleven years.
Police arrested her that evening.
For twelve hours, it looked like the case was finally closing.
Dad was in custody.
Mark had agreed to cooperate.
Mom was no longer considered an active conspirator.
Keller was wanted nationwide.
Paige was arrested.
The twins were safe.
Then Carla walked into Boise Police headquarters at 3:20 the following morning.
Alone.
She carried the missing black flash drive.
“I want immunity,” she said.
Detective Sloan refused.
Carla smiled.
“You’ll change your mind.”
“Why?”
Carla placed the drive on the desk.
“Because Thomas Keller didn’t kill Ethan.”
The room went silent.
“Then who did?”
Carla looked through the observation glass.
Directly at me.
May you like
“Mark.”
*
