Chapter 2 — Every Secret Has a Price
Detective Laura Bennett placed several photographs across the dining table.
Each one showed bruises on my father's wrists.
Medication bottles.
Altered prescription labels.
Bank transfers.
Luxury vacations.
Designer jewelry.
Sports cars.
Everything had been purchased using Richard Hale's accounts while he was barely able to stand.
Marcus folded his arms.
"So what?"
"My mother was taking care of him."
Detective Bennett looked directly at him.
"Caregivers don't usually bill a patient eight million dollars."
Another detective produced surveillance footage from a nearby pharmacy.
Vivian appeared on the screen buying sedatives under a false medical authorization.
Richard closed his eyes.
"I trusted you."
Vivian reached toward him.
"Richard, listen to me—"
He pulled away.
"No."
"For nine years I defended you."
"For nine years I believed Isabella hated you because she missed her mother."
His voice cracked.
"The only person I should have feared was standing beside my bed every night."
Marcus suddenly rushed toward the folders.
"You don't have warrants for this!"
Before he reached them, two officers stopped him.
Detective Bennett calmly placed him in handcuffs.
"You are under arrest for financial fraud, elder abuse, conspiracy, and destruction of evidence."
Marcus looked at Vivian.
She said nothing.
For the first time in his life, her son realized she could not save him.
Outside, television news vans had already gathered.
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The story of the Hale family was no longer private.
Dallas was watching.
