Chapter 13 - Brad Tries to Bargain
Brad asked Margaret for a private conversation.
She refused.
He spoke anyway.
“I can help find Emily.”
“Then help.”
“I need protection.”
“For what?”
“My mother will blame everything on me.”
Margaret almost laughed.
“You assaulted Emily and forged her signature.”
“I did not hit her.”
“You held her while your mother did.”
Brad’s eyes filled.
“I froze.”
Margaret leaned closer.
“So did everyone in this ballroom when you attacked me.”
He looked away.
Brad offered passwords to Gable Capital accounts.
He knew which shell company owned the river property.
He knew Cole’s emergency contacts.
In exchange, he wanted Margaret to tell investigators he had cooperated immediately.
She gave him nothing.
“Give the information because Emily’s life matters.”
“And if I do?”
“You will still answer for what you did.”
Brad hesitated.
Then unlocked his phone.
The river property was not a house.
It was an unfinished hydroelectric facility with underground maintenance tunnels.
May you like
Cole had worked there years earlier.
He knew passages not shown on public plans.
