Chapter 8 - VICTOR FINALLY TOLD THE TRUTH
Victor asked to see me.
By then, federal investigators had enough to charge him with financial crimes.
The attack remained under investigation.
He requested the meeting through counsel.
I agreed.
Recorded.
Lawyers present.
No theater.
Victor looked older.
“You're standing now.”
“Sometimes.”
He nodded.
“I never wanted you paralyzed.”
There.
Not denial.
My attorney went still.
Victor continued:
“I wanted you frightened.”
I stared.
He explained.
I had planned to restructure the Carter businesses.
Sell illegal operations.
Separate the docks from the crews who controlled them through intimidation.
Victor believed I'd destroy the organization our fathers built.
So he hired intermediaries to stage an attack.
Disable my vehicle.
Force me off the road.
Hospitalization.
A month, maybe two.
Enough for Victor to consolidate votes and stop restructuring.
Instead my SUV rolled.
I woke unable to move my legs.
Victor panicked.
Then realized the injury solved more than he had intended.
He convinced himself keeping me from hope was mercy.
“Mercy.”
I almost laughed.
“Hale said rehabilitation might fail.”
“So you hid it.”
“You were destroying yourself.”
“You keep saying that as if it gave you ownership.”
Victor looked down.
“I was afraid if you recovered, you'd find everything.”
“The money?”
“Yes.”
He had moved millions through shell contracts.
The attack protected the theft too.
I stared at the man who taught me to drive.
Brought presents on birthdays.
Sat beside my hospital bed.
“Why didn't you kill me?”
My attorney looked uncomfortable.
Victor's face broke.
“Because I loved you.”
That answer disgusted me more than hatred would have.
“You don't get to call control love.”
Silence.
Victor eventually pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including conspiracy connected to the attack and financial crimes.
Dr. Hale also faced criminal and professional consequences.
May you like
I did not attend every hearing.
Recovery had become more interesting than revenge.
