Chapter 9 - The Evidence Room Confession
By Sunday,
the criminal investigation had reached its peak.
Daniel was brought in for formal interrogation
at the precinct downtown.
Sitting in a cold,
windowless room,
under the harsh glare of a single overhead bulb.
Detective Miller slid a thick manila folder
across the metal table.
Recognize this,
Daniel?
Daniel kept his eyes glued to the table.
I want my lawyer.
Your lawyer dropped you this morning,
Detective Miller said smoothly.
Turns out you can't pay retainer fees
with frozen corporate assets.
Daniel swallowed hard.
His hands began to shake.
Look,
he muttered,
I made mistakes.
We all make mistakes.
Mistakes?
Miller laughed bitterly.
Embezzling four million dollars
and forging medical power of attorney documents
isn't a mistake,
Mercer.
It's grand larceny.
And conspiracy to commit fraud.
The door opened.
I stepped into the interrogation room,
standing behind the two-way mirror
before walking right in.
Daniel looked up.
His eyes bloodshot.
Margaret...
please.
Tell them to stop.
I pulled out a chair and sat down opposite him.
I didn't say a word for a long time.
Just watched him.
The man who had promised my daughter the world.
The man who had held her hand at the altar
and let go of it in the dark.
Why,
Daniel?
I finally asked.
My voice barely above a whisper.
Why did you hate her so much?
I didn't hate her,
he whispered back,
his voice breaking.
I just...
I wanted more.
I wanted everything she had,
without having to earn it.
And now,
you have nothing,
I said.
Not the money.
Not the company.
Not Vanessa.
Nothing.
He buried his face in his hands,
letting out a muffled sob.
Not out of remorse,
May you like
but out of pure,
unadulterated self-pity.
