CHAPTER 12: THE MOTHER'S DECISION
CHAPTER 12: THE MOTHER'S DECISION
News of the arrest spread quickly.
The next morning, David's attorney requested an emergency meeting with prosecutors.
An hour later, someone else made an unexpected request.
Rebecca Vance.
David's mother.
She entered the interview room looking nothing like the confident woman from The Copper Lantern.
The pearls were gone.
The expensive makeup had disappeared.
She looked exhausted.
Detective Hale sat across from her.
"You asked to speak with us."
Rebecca remained silent for several moments.
Finally she spoke.
"I spent years believing loyalty meant protecting my son."
She folded her hands.
"Now I'm beginning to understand the difference between loyalty... and enabling."
Marcus listened carefully.
"I'm prepared to answer questions."
"Why now?"
Rebecca looked toward the observation window.
"Because someone tried to enter my home last night."
Marcus's expression changed.
"They were looking for something."
"What?"
Rebecca slowly reached into her handbag.
She placed a small brass key on the table.
"My husband left this to me before he died."
"I never understood why."
She slid a faded envelope across the table.
Inside was the address of a private safe-deposit vault.
Marcus examined it.
"You've never opened it?"
Rebecca shook her head.
"My husband always said..."
"...if anyone ever comes asking for this key..."
"...it means the truth has finally caught up."
The interview room fell silent.
Marcus carefully picked up the key.
Outside, Agent Rebecca Lin hurried down the hallway.
"We've got another problem."
Marcus stepped outside.
"What happened?"
"The bank just called."
"The safe-deposit box connected to that key..."
"...was accessed early this morning."
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
"By whom?"
"They don't know."
"The visitor used forged identification."
Marcus looked back through the interview-room glass.
Rebecca's face had gone pale.
Whoever had broken into her home...
May you like
Had already known about the vault.
And they were still one step ahead of the investigation.
