Chapter 18 - MARGARET’S LAST MOVE
Margaret was released temporarily under strict conditions while several charges were pending.
She used that freedom badly.
She went to the press.
In a television interview, she described herself as the victim of a corporate coup.
She called Cassandra unstable.
She called me opportunistic.
She called Sophie confused.
That last word ended any remaining sympathy I had.
Then she made a mistake.
She claimed she had never handled Michael’s food or drinks.
Investigators already had employee testimony proving otherwise.
The interview became evidence.
Cassandra responded differently.
She did not go on television.
She released documents.
The original trust.
The merger side agreement.
The shell-company records.
The bribed medical report.
Preston’s private investigation files.
Facts did what arguments could not.
The board formally recognized Cassandra’s controlling interest.
The company entered a monitored restructuring agreement.
Several executives resigned.
Howard accepted charges related to financial concealment in exchange for cooperation.
Ethan faced fraud and conspiracy counts.
Preston remained in custody.
Margaret’s world narrowed rapidly.
Then she called me.
I almost did not answer.
I did because Cole had advised recording any contact.
Her voice was quiet.
“You ruined everything.”
I looked toward Sophie’s bedroom.
“No.”
“You could have taken the settlement.”
“I could have.”
“Your daughter would have been wealthy.”
“My daughter is not for sale.”
“You think that makes you noble?”
“No.”
“Then what do you want?”
I thought about the wedding aisle.
The wood breaking.
Sophie whispering that she had not taken anything.
“I want her to grow up knowing the truth mattered more than your money.”
Margaret laughed bitterly.
“Truth doesn’t keep companies alive.”
“No.”
I looked out the window.
“People do.”
She went silent.
Then she said, “Michael thought like you.”
My heart stopped.
“What did you do to him?”
Silence.
“Margaret.”
She breathed into the phone.
Then whispered.
“I told Preston to scare him.”
“Scare him how?”
Another pause.
“I never told anyone to kill him.”
The call ended.
Cole received the recording immediately.
For the first time, Margaret had admitted involvement in targeting Michael.
Not murder.
May you like
But targeting.
The wall moved another inch.
