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“Why did you freak out?” I ask, moving to stand across from her, my fingers pressed to the cheap wood of the desk.
“Come on, Reese. Who else but Reginald could have released that audio? He was the one on the call. He must have recorded me.”
“You said your father recorded you.”
“I said I suspected it, but I just didn’t want to believe Reginald would do that. Why would he do that?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know. I just—I don’t know. But it hurts. I thought he was the man I would spend the rest of my life with.”
“How did he feel about you walking away from the money?”
“You’ve asked me that,” she says. “I told you. He didn’t want me to walk away from the money.”
“Could he have killed your father to ensure you inherited?”
Her lips curl, pressed together like she’s biting back a sob before she pants out a breath. “I don’t want to believe that.”
“But you’ve considered it.”
“After that call was released, yes, but then I thought that makes no sense. If he wanted the money, he wouldn’t help them send me to prison, and that call does.”
“Unless,” I prod, wanting her to go where I already have.
“Unless he got spooked and was afraid they’d look at him. Unless he wants freedom more than the money. I sure do.”
“Our team is looking into his activity but we need him to testify for you.”
“So you need me to play nice with him.”
“Yes. I do. Record your conversations and once he testifies for you, expect me to destroy him. If he did it, I will make him confess.”
“If he did it, and then released that call to make it look like I did it, I hope you burn him in hell.”
“Good, because I will. Now, he’s here. Call him. Tell him I’m coming to talk to him but that you’ll talk to him tonight.”
She nods. “It’s going to be hard to be civil.”
“You need to be more than civil. Make him believe you two will live a happily ever after with loads of cash. Motivate him to testify for you, not against you.”
“Okay,” she agrees hoarsely.
“I’ve asked this, but I’ll ask again: What else does he have on you?”
“Nothing. That call was me giving up. I went to my father the next day. I told him I was giving up my inheritance.”
“That was the day after the call?” I confirm, already aware that she’d tried to disinherit herself.
“Yes, but he, of course, told me I’d be back and groveling.”
All facts I’m aware of and not pleased with either. It makes it look like she had a reason to kill him that wasn’t money. And that reason might resonate with a jury as guilt. “Call Reginald. I’m going to a brief meeting and then I’ll talk to him.”
“What are you going to say?”
“The truth. That you’re emotional and you need him.” I walk to the door and exit into the hallway where Richard, Elsa, and Royce now wait on me.
“She’s fine,” I say. “She just believes that Reginald betrayed her and she’s hurting. I’m going to talk to him.” I glance between Richard and Elsa. “She needs to fix her makeup and wear something other than black tomorrow. Funeral attire is all the wrong notes for this case.” My attention moves to Royce. “Anything on Reginald?”
