Chapter 9 - The Witness Who Stayed Silent
Michael Grant arrived at the hospital on December 30.
He looked like a man who had not slept properly since Christmas Eve.
Anna agreed to meet him in a private conference room.
Michael sat across from her.
“I owe you an apology.”
Anna said nothing.
He continued.
“I saw things before that night.”
“What things?”
“The way David talked about you.”
Anna’s expression remained still.
Michael rubbed his hands together.
“At the firm, he used to joke that you were sheltered.”
“He said you couldn’t make decisions without him.”
“He told people your family had abandoned you.”
Anna looked away.
Michael’s shame deepened.
“I laughed once.”
Anna looked back.
He swallowed.
“I am sorry.”
“You didn’t push me.”
“No.”
“You didn’t break my phone.”
“No.”
“But you sat at that table.”
Michael nodded.
“Yes.”
“That’s the part you’re ashamed of.”
“Yes.”
Anna appreciated that he did not defend himself.
Michael removed his phone.
“There’s more on the recording than the police initially heard.”
Anna’s eyes narrowed.
“What?”
“I started recording earlier than I told David.”
“Why?”
Michael hesitated.
“Because David had been drinking.”
“That wasn’t unusual.”
“No.”
Michael leaned forward.
“But he was bragging.”
“About what?”
“About your finances.”
Anna felt her stomach tighten.
“What did he say?”
Michael looked sick.
“He said he had finally made sure you couldn’t walk away with half of everything.”
Anna went completely still.
“He said the house was protected.”
“He said you had signed documents you didn’t understand.”
Anna’s hands began trembling.
“And you recorded that?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you give it to police?”
“I did.”
Anna stared.
Michael continued.
“They asked me not to discuss evidence publicly.”
“Then why are you telling me?”
“Because your attorney was informed this morning that the recording was being added to the financial investigation.”
Anna understood.
The case was widening.
Michael stood to leave.
At the door, Anna stopped him.
“Michael.”
He turned.
“Why did you start recording?”
He looked down.
“Because my sister was married to someone like David.”
Anna said nothing.
“She spent years telling us everything was fine.”
Michael’s eyes filled.
“When she finally left, I promised myself I would never ignore that kind of behavior again.”
He gave a bitter laugh.
“Then I did.”
Anna looked toward the door.
“You didn’t ignore it forever.”
Michael nodded.
“No.”
May you like
Sometimes courage arrived late.
Late was still better than never.
