Chapter 14 - ROBERT’S CONFESSION
Robert looked twenty years older when I saw him again.
He sat in a guarded hospital room with a bandage around his left hand.
According to him, Michael had attacked him at the airport parking structure.
Detective Collins did not automatically believe him.
Neither did I.
Robert began talking anyway.
“Yes, I helped move the money.”
“Yes, I falsified documents.”
“Yes, I accepted payments.”
He spoke like a man trying to empty himself before the weight crushed him.
Then Collins asked about the luncheon.
Robert shook his head.
“I told them not to do it.”
“You knew?”
“I knew Evelyn wanted a medical incident.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Then you helped.”
Robert lowered his eyes.
“I thought they were going to manufacture evidence.”
“Missed appointments.”
“Expired medication.”
“Something administrative.”
“I did not know they planned to trigger an allergic reaction.”
I wanted to believe there was at least one line he had refused to cross.
Then Collins placed the whiteboard photograph in front of him.
Robert looked away.
“Where is Michael?”
“I don’t know.”
“Why is he running?”
“Because Evelyn intends to blame everything on him.”
“That isn’t enough.”
Robert hesitated.
Then he looked at me.
“Michael stole more than the records show.”
“How much?”
“Almost one point two million.”
Reed frowned.
“We traced four hundred thousand to him.”
“You traced what passed through known accounts.”
Robert explained that Michael had created a second network of shell companies.
He had been stealing from Evelyn too.
She discovered it shortly before the luncheon.
“That’s why she needed control of Hart Biomedical quickly,” Robert said.
“She had to replace the money before auditors found the gap.”
“So Evelyn and Michael were partners who started stealing from each other.”
“Yes.”
I laughed once.
It sounded ugly.
“Perfect family.”
Robert lowered his voice.
“There is one thing you need to know.”
“Michael did not prepare the Costa Rica ticket.”
I looked at him.
“Evelyn did.”
“Why?”
“She never intended to share custody.”
“She planned to remove you.”
“Take Lily.”
“Gain control of the shares.”
“And send Michael out of the country with the child.”
“Why would Michael agree?”
“He thought Evelyn would pay him.”
Robert looked toward Collins.
“She planned to report him for kidnapping once he landed.”
The room went silent.
Evelyn had intended to use Michael and then destroy him.
That explained why he was terrified of her deal.
Collins stood.
“Where would Michael go?”
Robert closed his eyes.
“There’s one place.”
He gave us an address.
The old Hart family estate outside the city.
A property that had supposedly been empty for years.
May you like
Then Robert added one warning.
“If Michael is there, don’t assume he’s alone.”
