Chapter 18 #2
“Ink doesn’t forget, but funny thing is, I didn’t do it. I didn’t approve them, and yet, my name’s all over it. Money’s still missing. How did that happen, Ma? Can you explain that one? Because I didn’t do it, and when I left Dad that morning, he was inclined to believe me.”
“Grant, you can deny all you want. I understand why you’re doing it, but it’s a little late.” Mild scold now. “I’m disappointed in you. I raised you better than that, and unfortunately, the time to pay it back without consequences has passed.”
Erin’s jaw tightened. Riley could see the old pain resurface in her sister's expression. In the front seat, Sandy shifted, raising her hands to the headset covering her ears as she leaned forward.
“You know, I’ve thought a lot about that morning,” Grant said.
“You whispering in my ear, telling me I could just pay the money back, and no one would be the wiser. And Dad telling me I needed to do the right thing. But what really stuck out to me from that morning was how you mentioned that you and Dad were on the same page. I hadn’t given it a second thought until recent events, but that doesn’t sound like you and Dad wanted me to play by the same rules. ”
“I believe your memory might be mixed up.” More clanking noises filtered through the static. As if it were a spoon hitting the sides of a cup.
“Are you suggesting you didn’t want me to quietly pay the money back?”
The pause this time wasn’t delicate. It was heavy.
“No.” A louder clank. “I’m pointing out that you misunderstood your father. No way would he have wanted his only son to go to prison.”
“This guy is good.” The FBI agent nodded.
“I heard Dad loud and clear. Especially the parts about Mayor Jessip, Mason, even Walter, already… investigating the missing money.”
“I wondered how people in this town found out. I guess your father got a good case of conscience and tossed his own son under the bus.” Her voice sharpened. “I’ve spent years cleaning up messes men have made in this town. Your father included. How do you expect me to clean up yours?”
“Oh, come on. This is pathetic. How did I let this woman rule my life for decades?” Erin’s whisper scraped across Riley’s jangled nerves.
Grant chuckled. No humor in it. “Oh, Mother. That’s an interesting twist and makes absolutely no sense. All it does is deflect from the real culprit.”
“Who? Do you think it’s someone from the Revitalization Committee?” Her mother’s tone sounded breathy—almost childlike, and Riley could easily picture her mother’s eyes widening as she attempted to project innocence—Riley had seen it so often when the affair with Parker surfaced.
Grant snorted. “Not unless you’ve joined the committee recently.”
“Watch yourself,” Elizabeth snapped.
Riley was done calling that woman, her mother.
“I won’t be spoken to in that tone.”
“We could trade barbs all day,” he said. “But let’s trade facts instead.” Paper rustled faintly. “Checks with my name. Ledger entries re-keyed after hours from your home IP. Vendor accounts routed and rerouted to accounts that… eventually can be traced back to you.”
“Are you accusing your own mother of stealing?” Her outrage was perfectly pitched, ripe for the audience she didn’t know she had.
“You accused me. I’m just asking why your fingerprints are on my noose.”
“You’re being melodramatic.”
“Maybe. Or maybe I’m being a son who’s tired of you using your children for whatever games you’re playing.
” Grant spoke the words slowly, letting them land.
“Do you remember the summer fundraiser right after Riley found out about you and Parker? When the silent auction ‘mysteriously’ came up short?”
“Chaotic night,” she said smoothly. “Cash handling was sloppy, and I covered for that young lady. And you’re very mistaken about what your sister saw.”
Riley closed her eyes for a long moment, refusing to let those two memories form in her mind.
“No. I don’t think I am. I know what Riley saw.
So does Erin. That missing money—it was all deflection to take the heat off you and your affair.
And Riley wouldn’t steal a dime from anyone.
But you wouldn’t know a thing about your youngest child because you haven’t taken the time to get to know her.
” Silence. Then a soft clink—perhaps her mug set down a touch too hard.
“If you’re here to sling mud and be cruel, then you can leave,” Elizabeth said.
“Shit,” Sandy said.
“It’s all good.” The FBI man grinned. “This guy knows his mother. He’s taking her to places that will rattle her until she cracks. Trust him.”
Riley didn’t quite have that same confidence right about now.
“I only wanted you to know that I see you,” Grant said. “Before we get to why I’m really here.”
“I don’t have time for childish games,” Elizabeth snapped.
“My goodness, he’s got her so riled up, she’s going to blow,” Erin whispered. “And when that happens, she admits all sorts of weird things. She did that when she told me she bribed Chad to take me out.”
“She did what?” The revelation hit Riley like a cold slap. Their mother hadn't just been controlling and manipulative—she'd actually paid someone to date Erin. Riley felt sick thinking about how many of their life choices might have been influenced by Elizabeth's hidden machinations.
“Shush.” Sandy waved her hand.
“Alright, Mother. Let’s talk specifics. You ran into some… financial difficulties. First with medical bills. Then, with that Ponzi scheme that I told you not to invest in but was willing to help you recover from.”
A cool exhale. “So, Parker’s medical bills are now my moral failure? Is that it? I kept this family’s head above water for years while your father was nowhere to be found and your little sister was off galivanting—”
“Leave her out of this,” Grant snapped, the first real crack in his calm.
Riley sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly.
“Don’t take that tone with me,” Elizabeth said. “You think I don’t know what it costs to be married to a man who checked out emotionally? A man who preferred the company of people who looked down on me and then took my child from me? I made sacrifices. You should be grateful.”
“Grateful for the way you turned Erin and me against Dad? Against Ry?” Grant asked.
“I allowed you to poison me against Bryson for years, letting me believe I was better than him and even thinking he was the sole reason Ry left town. But that’s not even half as bad as what you’ve done to Erin.
Taking her husband’s side. A cheater. A man who treats her like she’s not even worth his breath. ”
“That’s enough,” Elizabeth said. “I think you should leave now. I will not be spoken to like this in my own home.”
“Oh, no, Mom. I’m not leaving yet.” Grant let the words breathe like a fine bottle of wine. “Here’s the truth I need. Tell me you did it. Tell me you forged my name and took the money. Just me. No one else. I don’t care if anyone else ever finds out the truth. This is between a mother and her son.”
“I can’t tell you that because I didn’t do it,” she said flatly. “You did.”
“Listen. It’s real simple, Mom. I want to hear the truth.
Then I’ll go and pay the money back. We both know I’ve got the funds.
I’ll do my best to make excuses. It was a mistake.
I’ll come up with something that hopefully doesn’t land me in prison.
I’ll do that for you, but only if you tell me the truth. ”
A whisper of a movement. A rustle of fabric. Riley pictured Elizabeth standing, hand to throat, every gesture calculated for maximum effect.
“I will not be threatened in my own home,” she said. “Not by my son.”
“I’m not threatening you, Mom.” He lowered his voice. “I’m offering you a way out.”
“A way out?” Elizabeth echoed, wary despite herself.
In the van, Sandy’s eyes flicked to the FBI agent. “I can’t believe he took that approach, and she’s potentially caving.”
“It’s a win-win for you. Parker’s name never has to make a headline,” Grant said.
“Your spending never has to be tallied in court filings. You tell me what happened. I’ll pay back the shortfall.
I’ll say I was sloppy. I’ll take the professional hit.
You keep your garden club. Your charities.
Your dinners. I carry it, no matter the consequences. ”
Erin’s drew in a sharp breath. In the front of the van, the FBI agent murmured, “Jesus, what a fucking lifeboat.”
“You’d wreck your reputation to spare me? Why?” Elizabeth asked.
“Because I still love you,” he said simply. “And because I can survive this. The kids can survive it. I figure I can cut a deal. I’m respected. It can’t be that bad. But I need the truth to protect you and the rest of my family.”
“And if I say there is nothing to tell?” she asked. “Because why would I, after all those hurtful things you just launched at me like a grenade?”
“Because you need to know that I’m the one holding the cards here,” Grant said. “I’m the one with the power, not you.”
“You’ve never been very good at poker, because my truth isn’t going to change,” Elizabeth said.
“Come on, Grant. Go for the jugular,” Sandy whispered.
“Okay. Then you need to know that when I walk out this door, I go to Sandy with everything I have.” A measured beat. “IP logs. Access times. The signature stamp you used.”
“You have no proof of that,” Elizabeth snapped.
Grant didn’t answer. He let the silence linger, patient as a tide. But seconds turned to minutes, and Elizabeth didn’t bend.
“What’s it going to be?” Grant asked.
Elizabeth’s breath steadied. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because I’m your son, and I’m here offering you myself as the sacrificial lamb just like you trained me to do.” His tone gentled, the way someone would talk to the wounded. “Tell me it was you. Tell me you panicked. Tell me you were scared. Tell me you didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Something clinked—a ring against ceramic, maybe. “If I say those words,” she murmured, “what happens to me?”