Chapter 11: The Recording
The engagement party ended without anyone announcing it.
Guests simply began leaving.
Nobody needed to be asked.
Within twenty minutes, the house that had been full of laughter was nearly silent.
Only family remained.
And Thomas.
And Andrew.
And Nathan.
Linda sat at the kitchen table with her arms crossed.
"You have nothing.""
Dad stared at her.
"You keep saying that.""
"Because it's true.""
Thomas placed the microcassette on the table.
Linda's eyes followed it.
Andrew had found an old recorder in Dad's basement.
The machine looked ancient.
Gray plastic.
Scratched buttons.
A tiny speaker.
But when Thomas inserted the tape, Linda stood.
"I'm leaving.""
Dad blocked the doorway.
"No.""
"You cannot hold me here.""
"You're right," Andrew said.
Everyone turned.
He looked at Dad.
"Don't physically prevent her from leaving.""
Dad's jaw tightened.
Andrew continued.
"If she wants to go, let her.""
Linda grabbed her purse.
Then Madison spoke.
"If you walk out that door, I'm staying.""
Linda froze.
Madison's eyes were red.
"I'm serious.""
"You don't know what you're saying.""
"I know exactly what I'm saying.""
"I'm your mother.""
"Then act like one.""
Linda stared at her daughter.
Madison pointed toward me.
"You made me destroy her dress.""
Linda rolled her eyes.
"Again with the dress.""
"You made me steal her ring.""
"I didn't make you do anything.""
"You told me Emily would throw us into the street.""
"She might.""
"No.""
Madison's voice cracked.
"You needed me scared.""
Linda's expression hardened.
Madison continued.
"Because scared people don't ask questions.""
I looked at her.
For the first time, Madison looked back without resentment.
Only shame.
"I'm sorry, Emily.""
I didn't know what to say.
So I told the truth.
"I'm not ready to forgive you.""
She nodded.
"I know.""
"But keep telling the truth.""
"I will.""
Linda picked up her purse.
Then the recorder clicked.
A woman's voice filled the kitchen.
My mother's voice.
I stopped breathing.
"Is it recording?""
Fifteen years disappeared.
I was fifteen again.
Mom calling me downstairs for pancakes.
Mom singing badly in the car.
Mom laughing when Dad burned Thanksgiving turkey.
I covered my mouth.
Daniel's hand found mine.
Thomas's younger voice came through the tape.
"Yes.""
Mom sighed.
"If something happens to me, I want Emily protected.""
Dad began crying silently.
On the recording, Thomas said, "Susan, you're frightened.""
"I am.""
"Of Linda Vale?""
"Of what she and Marcus Bell are doing.""
Linda whispered, "Marcus.""
Thomas looked at her.
"You remember him.""
She didn't answer.
The recording continued.
Mom's voice:
"I found the transfer records. They're using false investment accounts. Some of the money is being moved through trusts belonging to clients' children.""
Andrew leaned toward the recorder.
Nathan whispered, "That's why Emily's trust mattered.""
Thomas nodded.
On the tape, Mom continued.
"I moved the funds I could trace into a holding account. I told Linda she can have every legitimate dollar returned after the authorities review it.""
Thomas's younger voice asked, "What did she say?""
Mom paused.
Then:
"She said I wouldn't live long enough to testify.""
Madison made a small sound.
Linda slammed her hand onto the table.
"Turn that off!""
Nobody moved.
She lunged toward the recorder.
Daniel grabbed it first.
"Give it to me!""
"No.""
"That recording is illegal!""
Andrew stepped between them.
"Whether it's admissible depends on jurisdiction and circumstances. But destroying it would be an extremely poor decision.""
Linda stopped.
The tape continued.
Mom said, "I don't know if Linda meant it. Maybe she wanted to frighten me.""
Thomas asked, "Have you told Robert?""
"No.""
"Why?""
"Because Robert still believes the investment collapse was his fault. If he learns Linda was connected to it, he'll confront her.""
"Maybe he should.""
"No. Not until investigators have the documents.""
Dad lowered his head.
Mom had known him perfectly.
He would have confronted Linda.
He would have tried to fix everything himself.
And maybe that was exactly what she'd feared.
Then Thomas's younger voice said something unexpected.
"Susan, there's something else you need to know.""
"What?""
"Linda isn't working alone.""
The tape crackled.
Mom asked, "Marcus?""
"No.""
A long silence.
"Then who?""
Before Thomas could answer, the recording cut out.
Everyone stared at the machine.
"No," I whispered.
Thomas frowned.
"That's not where it ended.""
Linda moved.
Fast.
She knocked the recorder from Daniel's hand.
It struck the tile floor.
Plastic exploded.
The cassette skidded under the table.
Madison screamed.
Dad shouted, "Linda!""
She kicked the cassette.
I dropped to my knees and grabbed it before she could crush it.
Daniel restrained Linda by the shoulders long enough to move her away, then immediately released her.
Andrew took the cassette from me.
"The tape looks intact.""
Linda was breathing hard.
"You're all insane.""
Thomas stared at her.
"You're scared of the next part.""
"There is no next part.""
"Yes, there is.""
"You don't remember.""
Thomas went quiet.
That was strange.
I looked at him.
"What does she mean?""
He didn't answer.
"Thomas.""
His face had gone pale.
"I haven't listened to this tape in fifteen years.""
"Why?""
"Because Susan made me promise.""
"But you know what you told her.""
"I know what I believed then.""
"What did you believe?""
He looked at Dad.
Then away.
"I need to hear the rest before I accuse anyone.""
Dad stepped toward him.
"You already accused Linda.""
"I had records supporting that.""
"And the other person?""
Thomas said nothing.
Linda began laughing.
Softly at first.
Then harder.
"You brought him into your house, Emily.""
I looked at her.
"Who?""
She smiled.
"You've been standing beside him all night.""
My eyes moved to Dad.
Then Daniel.
Then Andrew.
Then Nathan.
Thomas closed his eyes.
Linda whispered:
"Ask Thomas who gave me Susan's private trust information in the first place.""
The kitchen went silent.
May you like
Thomas opened his eyes.
And looked directly at Andrew Walsh.
