Chapter 15 - RICHARD'S BARGAIN
Richard asked to speak with prosecutors.
His attorney wanted a deal.
He would explain everything if authorities considered reducing his exposure on the homicide conspiracy.
Detective Briggs warned Ethan not to expect honesty.
“People like Richard rarely confess cleanly.”
Ethan watched the recorded interview later.
Richard began with Celeste.
He said she had approached him six years earlier.
At first, their relationship was an affair.
Then money became involved.
Celeste believed Claire's family owed hers a fortune.
Richard believed Ethan had never appreciated his contribution to Cole Holdings.
Together they began moving money.
Small amounts.
Then larger amounts.
Claire eventually discovered the theft.
Celeste panicked.
Richard contacted Voss.
The doctor agreed to make Claire appear medically unreliable.
But according to Richard, Celeste went further.
“She said Claire needed to become too sick to fight.”
Briggs asked, “Who obtained the compound?”
Richard looked down.
“I did.”
Ethan's stomach turned.
“Who put it into the capsules?”
“I did.”
“Who gave them to Claire?”
“Celeste.”
Richard paused.
“Mostly.”
“Mostly?”
Richard admitted he personally delivered the bottle to the house.
He told Claire they were supplements recommended by Voss.
Celeste then encouraged Claire to take them.
Voss knew something was wrong but refused to investigate because Richard was paying him.
Briggs leaned closer.
“When did you know Claire might die?”
Richard stared at the table.
“When she went to the hospital the last time.”
“And what did you do?”
“Nothing.”
Ethan had to leave the room.
Nothing.
That word hurt more than Richard's elaborate lies.
Claire had been dying.
Richard had known.
And he did nothing.
Richard continued his confession.
After Claire died, Celeste expected Ethan to collapse.
He did.
For almost a year, grief consumed him.
Celeste became helpful.
Present.
Patient.
She organized Sophie's routines.
She handled charitable events.
She listened when Ethan could not sleep.
Eventually, he allowed her into his life.
Richard remained close too.
They had surrounded him from both sides.
Then they discovered Claire's Wyoming company.
But they couldn't access it without controlling Sophie.
That was when the guardianship plan began.
Richard admitted the Zurich trip was designed to establish Sophie temporarily overseas.
Celeste intended to claim Ethan was unstable.
Richard intended to use foreign trustees to restructure the hidden assets.
Their problem was Sophie.
She had found Claire's photograph.
Then she found the silver key.
Celeste realized the child might lead Ethan to Claire's evidence.
“So she locked Sophie in the suitcase?”
Briggs asked.
Richard looked at the floor.
“That part wasn't planned.”
“Then what happened?”
“Celeste called me.”
“She said Sophie had seen the tickets.”
“And?”
“She said the girl wouldn't stop screaming for her father.”
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Richard looked toward the camera.
“So Celeste decided Sophie needed to be quiet until the car arrived.”
