Chapter 11 - Mother and Son
Gregory did not break down the door.
He knocked politely.
That was more frightening.
“Mother.”
Margaret trembled.
I touched her arm.
“Stay behind me.”
She almost laughed.
“He hates that.”
“What?”
“Women standing between him and something he wants.”
Gregory knocked again.
“Ashlynn, open the door.”
“No.”
“This is a family matter.”
“You made me family four days ago.”
Silence.
Then Gregory said, “My mother is mentally ill.”
Margaret closed her eyes.
Same script.
Same weapon.
Different woman.
I activated my recorder.
“Margaret is sitting calmly in my cabin.”
“She needs medication.”
“She says you and Howard confined her.”
“My father protected her.”
Margaret stood.
“No.”
Her voice shook.
But she spoke again.
“No, Gregory.”
Silence outside.
“You were twelve when it started.”
She walked toward the door.
“You heard me screaming.”
“Mother.”
“You saw what he did.”
“Stop.”
“And now you’re becoming him.”
Gregory struck the door with his palm.
Margaret flinched.
I did not.
“You don’t know what he was like,” Gregory shouted.
Margaret’s face crumpled.
“Yes, I do.”
“You abandoned us.”
“He told you that.”
“You disappeared.”
“Because he locked me away.”
Gregory went silent.
Margaret pressed her hand against the door.
“I wrote you letters.”
“No.”
“Every birthday.”
“Stop lying.”
“Every Christmas.”
“Stop.”
“Howard destroyed them.”
A long silence followed.
For one moment, I wondered whether something inside Gregory might break open.
Whether the frightened child beneath the controlling man might finally see the truth.
Then he spoke.
“You poisoned her against me, Ashlynn.”
There it was.
Responsibility rejected.
Blame transferred.
I understood Gregory better in that second than I had during our entire relationship.
Elena arrived with two security officers.
Gregory was escorted away from the corridor.
Before leaving, he looked directly at me.
“You think you’re exposing my family?”
His voice was almost calm.
“You don’t understand what happens if Hartman Maritime falls.”
“What happens?”
“Thousands of people lose everything.”
“That sounds like something your father should have considered.”
Gregory smiled.
“My father isn’t the one who’s going to fall.”
He glanced at Margaret.
“You are.”
Later that morning, Naomi called.
Her voice sounded strained.
“Ashlynn, Hartman attorneys filed an emergency petition in California.”
“For what?”
“To have Margaret declared mentally incompetent again.”
I looked toward Margaret.
Naomi continued.
“And they named you in it.”
“Why?”
May you like
“They’re accusing you of abducting her.”
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