Chapter 13 - LAUREN’S BARGAIN
Matthew had collected private information for years.
He used it to pressure employees.
He used it to control board votes.
He used it to silence journalists.
He used it to frighten competitors.
Some information came from private investigators.
Some came from illegal access to NexusCore systems.
Some came from Lauren.
She had organized the files.
“You helped him build this,” I said.
Lauren’s eyes filled with shame.
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“At first, I thought it was competitive intelligence.”
“And later?”
“I knew.”
Her honesty did not soften the truth.
“You could have left.”
“He knew where Milo’s father lived.”
I looked at the black notebook.
“What did he threaten?”
“To tell Milo’s father I was unstable.”
“Were you?”
“No.”
“But Matthew had documents?”
“Created documents.”
False medical records.
Altered messages.
Photographs presented without context.
The same methods he was now using against me.
Matthew did not choose Lauren because she was stronger than me.
He chose her because she was already frightened of losing something.
Then he made himself the only person who could protect it.
It was the same cage with different furniture.
Lauren explained that Milo’s father was a teacher named Ethan Brooks.
They had separated before Milo’s birth.
Matthew promised to help Lauren win sole custody.
In return, she gave him access to financial systems.
By the time she understood the scheme, her own signatures were everywhere.
“You were not trapped at the beginning,” I said.
“No.”
“You made choices.”
“Yes.”
“You helped him steal from thousands of people.”
“Yes.”
“You stood in my home wearing his promises while I defended his reputation.”
Lauren lowered her eyes.
“Yes.”
I waited for an excuse.
None came.
“I do not expect forgiveness,” she said.
“Good.”
“I only want Milo safe.”
“He will be.”
Her eyes lifted.
“Why would you help me?”
“I am not helping you.”
I pushed the notebook toward the prosecutor.
“I am refusing to punish a child for his mother’s choices.”
Lauren began crying.
I felt no satisfaction.
I also felt no need to comfort her.
The prosecutor offered a conditional cooperation agreement.
Lauren would testify about the assault recording, financial transfers, blackmail files, and escape plan.
In exchange, prosecutors would consider her assistance during sentencing.
She would still face charges.
She signed.
Before leaving, Lauren removed a small object from her purse.
A blue sock.
It matched the one I had found beneath Matthew’s car seat.
“I kept the other one,” she said.
“Why are you giving it to me?”
“Because it was the first thing that made you question him.”
“No.”
I left the sock on the table.
“Matthew made me question myself long before that.”
Lauren nodded.
She did not take the sock.
After she left, my father entered.
He looked at the black notebook.
Then he found his own name.
Beside it, Matthew had written two sentences.
Daughter is weakness.
Pride keeps them apart.
My father closed the book.
“He understood us.”
“He understood the worst version of us.”
“I should have come after you.”
“I would have pushed you away.”
“I should have tried anyway.”
I looked at him.
Seven years stood between us.
No single apology could remove them.
But an apology could open a door.
“I needed you to call.”
“You needed me to answer.”
“You did.”
My father placed his hand over mine.
“I always will.”
The prosecutor returned with urgent news.
One of the names in Matthew’s notebook belonged to a federal judge involved in NexusCore’s fraud case.
Beside the judge’s name was a word.
DAUGHTER.
May you like
Matthew still possessed information powerful enough to damage the investigation.
And someone had just sent the judge a threat.
