Chapter 11 - MY MOTHER'S FIRST TRUE STORY
I saw Marlene in a secure interview room three days later.
She looked smaller without diamonds, makeup or a room full of people eager to flatter her.
A lawyer sat beside her and made clear she would answer only questions permitted by investigators.
For the first time, our conversation had witnesses.
Marlene told them she married Grant because he had helped her manage financial chaos after Dad died.
Then she admitted that Grant's help began before Dad's death.
"Daniel was investigating the company," she said. "He believed Grant was diverting money."
My father's name sounded foreign in her mouth.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked.
She closed her eyes.
"Grant said Daniel was going to take everything away from us."
"Everything he owned was his to protect."
"I was frightened."
"You were also cruel. For twenty years."
She cried silently.
I had waited for those tears all my life, imagining they might release me.
They did not.
Marlene acknowledged signing documents she did not understand and later participating in false statements about my inheritance.
She claimed Grant threatened to expose her role whenever she tried to correct the record.
Investigators pressed her about North Quay.
She recalled seeing Grant and a contractor exchange an envelope after Dad warned about damaged lifting equipment.
She had no direct knowledge of anyone intentionally causing his death.
That distinction mattered, and the detectives insisted on it.
Then she told me something worse than any accusation.
"Daniel left a letter for you after he died," she whispered.
"I know. I found one."
"There were several. Birthdays. Graduation. Your wedding, if you ever married."
I could scarcely breathe.
"Where are they?"
"Grant locked them away. I asked him to give them to you. He said you'd use them to take the money."
"And you listened."
She nodded.
There was nothing dignified or redeeming in that admission.
I had spent twenty-two birthdays thinking my father had nothing left to tell me.
After the interview, Marlene's lawyer approached Rebecca with an offer.
She would testify about the forged inheritance acknowledgment if we agreed not to pursue her personally.
Rebecca turned it down as stated.
"Cooperation does not buy immunity from Claire's decisions," she said.
I left before my mother could call my name again.
Outside, Nathan waited beside his car, looking devastated.
"Sloane knew," he said.
"About what?"
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"I found a message from her to Grant. She wrote, 'The old letters are the only thing Claire would ever believe. Burn them before she sees.'"
