Chapter 18 - The Recording
I listened again.
I switched the glasses.
Marcus's voice.
Clear.
Undeniable.
My hands went numb.
The agent continued the recording.
Richard said, "Then Charles will know."
Marcus answered, "Better me than Amelia."
The recording ended.
I looked at the investigator.
"What happened after that?"
"We don't know."
Marcus was brought in for questioning that night.
I refused to see him.
For hours, I sat inside my father's old office trying to understand.
Had Marcus poisoned Richard accidentally?
Had he known?
Had the wrong person drunk from the wrong glass?
At 2:00 a.m., Edwin entered.
"I was there."
I looked up.
"What?"
"Not in the dining room."
He sat across from me.
"Outside."
He explained.
Richard had discovered Charles planned to poison my drink during a private family dinner.
I had been driving to the estate.
Marcus arrived early.
Richard recognized the smell of bitter almonds in my wine.
Marcus switched my glass with his own before Charles entered.
Then Richard switched it again.
I stared at Edwin.
"Why?"
"Because Richard knew Marcus would drink it."
My throat closed.
"So my father drank poison meant for me."
Edwin nodded.
"And Marcus tried to save me."
"Yes."
Every person in my life had protected me by lying.
My father.
Marcus.
Edwin.
I was tired of being protected.
By morning, forensic experts authenticated the complete audio.
Charles had edited the version given to investigators.
The missing section proved Marcus had attempted to stop the poisoning.
Charges against him were dropped.
Charles was charged with murder.
Attempted murder.
Fraud.
Kidnapping.
Conspiracy.
And enough financial crimes to keep teams of prosecutors busy for years.
It should have ended there.
Instead, Charles requested to speak with me.
Against everyone's advice, I went.
He sat behind thick glass inside a federal detention facility.
No expensive suit.
No boardroom.
No power.
Just an old man with tired eyes.
"You look like Richard."
"I'm not biologically related to him."
Charles smiled.
"That isn't what I meant."
I picked up the phone.
"Why did you want to see me?"
"To warn you."
"About what?"
"Marcus."
I nearly hung up.
Charles leaned closer.
"You think I created his ambition?"
"No."
"I only used it."
"What do you want?"
His smile faded.
"Ask him why he married you."
"My father approved the marriage."
"That isn't an answer."
I stared at him.
Charles whispered.
"Marcus didn't meet you by accident."
My heart slowed.
"What are you saying?"
"Richard investigated Marcus after you met."
Charles smiled again.
"But I knew Marcus before you ever did."
I stood.
Charles tapped the glass.
"Ask your husband about New Orleans."
I left without responding.
That evening, I found Marcus outside the Sinclair Grand.
The same entrance where he had thrown me into the rain.
He looked at me.
I said one word.
May you like
"New Orleans."
His expression told me Charles had not lied.
