Chapter 12 - BROOKE CHANGES SIDES
Brooke called Evelyn.
Not me.
She wanted immunity from the civil claims in exchange for information.
When Evelyn told me, I laughed.
“Of course she does.”
Brooke agreed to meet.
She arrived without designer clothes.
No perfect blowout.
No performance.
Just Brooke.
“I didn’t know about the crash.”
She said.
“I believe you.”
She looked surprised.
“What did you know?”
“The payments.”
“What payments?”
“To me.”
Of course.
She swallowed.
“Mom told me Richard needed to move money out of company accounts because you might freeze him out.”
“When?”
“After the crash.”
“So your consulting salary increased.”
She looked down.
“Yes.”
“How much did you know was fake?”
“Most of it.”
I stared at her.
Brooke started crying.
“I have Tyler.”
“So?”
“I was divorced.”
“So?”
“I needed money.”
“So you stole from a company funded by my father.”
Her face flushed.
“When you say it like that—”
“How would you prefer I say it?”
She had no answer.
Then she pulled out a folder.
“Mom kept copies.”
“Of what?”
“Everything.”
Inside were emails between Victoria and Richard.
One message was sent two hours after the crash.
Victoria.
DO NOT SPEAK TO POLICE WITHOUT COUNSEL.
Richard.
I THINK THE TRUCK MOVED BECAUSE OF ME.
Victoria.
THEN WE MAKE SURE THAT CANNOT BE PROVEN.
My stomach turned.
Another.
Richard.
CALEB SAW NOTHING.
Victoria.
GOOD.
Another.
Richard.
HE KEEPS ASKING WHY I WAS THERE.
Victoria.
THEN TELL HIM YOU WEREN’T.
I stopped reading.
Brooke wiped her eyes.
“I found these on Mom’s old laptop.”
“Why bring them now?”
She laughed bitterly.
“Because she cut me off.”
There it was.
Not conscience.
Consequence.
I appreciated the honesty more than a fake moral awakening.
“She says I embarrassed the family by cooperating with your lawyer.”
I almost smiled.
“Apparently embarrassment is contagious.”
Brooke looked ashamed.
“I was horrible to Caleb.”
“Yes.”
“I thought he was being dramatic.”
“Yes.”
“Tyler copied me.”
“Yes.”
She closed her eyes.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at her.
“Apologize to him when his therapist says he’s ready.”
She nodded.
Then she said.
“There is something else about Mom.”
“What?”
“She has been preparing to remove Richard from the company.”
I frowned.
“Why?”
“Because she thinks the liquidation can be stopped if the board blames everything on him.”
May you like
Victoria was preparing to sacrifice her own son.
And Richard still thought she was protecting him.
