Chapter 13 - THE LEAK
Cole restricted access.
Only five people knew about the supplement box before Margaret’s attorney referenced it.
Cole.
His captain.
A federal investigator.
The prosecutor.
And Howard Pike, because he had been assisting under a cooperation agreement.
Howard denied leaking anything.
The federal investigator had no apparent connection to the Vales.
The prosecutor had built cases against Vale Hospitality before.
Cole’s captain, Martin Reeves, had served twenty-seven years.
Then Cassandra found his name.
Inside one of Preston’s old influence ledgers.
M. Reeves.
$15,000.
Seven years earlier.
Cole went pale.
Reeves was suspended.
He eventually admitted taking money.
Not directly from Preston.
Through a security consulting company.
He claimed he believed the payment was legitimate.
No one believed that either.
More disturbing was his involvement in Michael’s original death investigation.
Reeves had been the supervising lieutenant.
He approved closing the case quickly.
My stomach turned.
“Did he bury evidence?”
Cole looked at me.
“We don’t know.”
Records showed one witness had reported seeing an unfamiliar SUV near our house the night before Michael died.
That statement was never included in the final file.
Another note referred to prescription bottles missing from the scene.
Also omitted.
Cole looked furious.
“My department failed you.”
I shook my head.
“Reeves failed us.”
“No.”
Cole looked at the old file.
“We had systems that let him.”
I respected him for saying it.
Then the laboratory results arrived.
The supplements recovered from B-17 contained multiple contaminants.
One batch contained a concentrated stimulant.
Another contained a heavy metal compound.
But the boxes were old.
There was no way to establish they were the exact batches given to Richard or Michael.
Still, prosecutors now had evidence of intent to possess or manipulate dangerous substances.
They needed a link.
They found it in Margaret’s old email account.
One deleted message to Preston.
The doctor says Richard stopped taking the powder.
If Michael frightened him, we have a new problem.
Preston replied.
Then handle Michael.
No further message followed.
Cassandra read the exchange twice.
Her hands shook.
“What does handle mean?”
No one answered.
Because everyone knew what it might mean.
And everyone knew what it might not.
Margaret was arrested on conspiracy and fraud-related charges.
But the prosecutor still refused to charge either Margaret or Preston with murder.
Too much uncertainty.
May you like
Not enough direct evidence.
Then Howard Pike disappeared.
