Chapter 18 - MARGARET'S LAST MOVE
Thomas was held pending further investigation.
Margaret was questioned separately.
She refused to cooperate.
For two days, she said almost nothing.
Then she requested to speak with Mariana.
Alone.
The meeting took place in a secured conference room with cameras recording.
Margaret entered wearing a simple gray suit.
Without the mansion, jewelry, or servants around her, she looked smaller.
But not weaker.
She sat across from Mariana.
“You destroyed my family.”
Mariana shook her head.
“No.”
“Your family did that.”
Margaret smiled.
“You still believe you’re righteous.”
“I don’t care how you see me.”
“You should.”
“Why?”
“Because I know something your father never told you.”
Mariana’s eyes narrowed.
Margaret leaned back.
“Gabriel didn’t rescue Whitmore International because of you.”
Mariana remained silent.
“He invested before he knew you were in love with Andrew.”
“That’s false.”
“Ask him.”
Mariana studied her.
Margaret continued.
“Gabriel wanted access to something Thomas controlled.”
“What?”
“A ledger.”
“The same network your investigators are reviewing now.”
“Why would my father need it?”
“Because his name is in it.”
Mariana’s face remained controlled.
Margaret smiled.
“There.”
“For the first time, I finally surprised you.”
Mariana leaned forward.
“If you have evidence, show it.”
“I have better.”
Margaret reached into the folder her attorney had allowed her to bring.
She removed a photocopy.
A transfer record.
The date was thirty years old.
The sender was a partnership account once controlled jointly by Gabriel, Thomas, and Elias.
The receiving company was registered to Gabriel.
The amount was twelve million dollars.
Mariana stared at the signature.
Gabriel Escalante.
Margaret whispered.
“Your father was not the innocent man in that partnership.”
Mariana looked up.
“Where did you get this?”
“Thomas kept everything.”
“Then why show me?”
“Because you took my son away from me.”
“I want to return the favor.”
Mariana almost laughed.
“Andrew walked away from you because of what you did.”
Margaret’s eyes flashed.
“You poisoned him.”
“No.”
“I stopped carrying him.”
“And when I did, he finally learned to stand on his own.”
Margaret’s face hardened.
She leaned toward Mariana.
“You think this ends with Thomas in handcuffs?”
“No.”
“Good.”
“Because it doesn’t.”
She tapped the document.
“Your father has spent thirty years building a clean reputation.”
“Ask him where the first twelve million came from.”
Mariana stood.
Margaret smiled.
“One more thing.”
Mariana stopped.
Margaret’s voice became almost cheerful.
“The emerald necklace was never the most valuable thing I placed in your suitcase.”
Mariana turned.
“What does that mean?”
Margaret leaned back.
“That gray suitcase had two compartments.”
Mariana stared at her.
Investigators had found the necklace in the lining.
Nothing else had been reported.
Margaret smiled.
May you like
“You should ask what was hidden underneath it.”
*
