Chapter 5 - THE BROTHER WHO CONTROLLED THE TRUTH
Grant Wexler came to Rebecca Shaw's office the next morning.
He arrived alone.
No bodyguards.
No expensive suit.
Just a man who looked as though he hadn't slept.
Rebecca met him at the door.
“This isn't a negotiation.”
Grant nodded.
“I understand.”
I sat across the table.
My surgical incision still hurt.
Hope remained in the NICU.
And I had no patience left for powerful men pretending they were misunderstood.
“Why did you threaten Luis?”
Grant looked at me.
“I didn't know what he'd witnessed.”
“That's not what I asked.”
He swallowed.
“I told him not to speak because I believed the investigation was being handled internally.”
I stared.
“Internally?”
Grant lowered his eyes.
“My brother said the fire was caused by an electrical failure.”
“And you believed him?”
“Yes.”
“Even after Luis told you someone locked him inside?”
Grant's jaw tightened.
“I thought he was confused.”
I leaned forward.
“My husband died because your brother's men locked someone inside a burning building.”
Grant looked away.
“And you helped cover it up.”
He closed his eyes.
For a long moment, nobody spoke.
Then he said:
“Yes.”
Rebecca placed a recorder on the table.
“Are you willing to make a formal statement?”
Grant stared at it.
He understood what she was asking.
Not an apology.
Not a private settlement.
A statement that could implicate his family.
His businesses.
Possibly himself.
He looked at me.
“Will it help your daughter?”
I felt anger rise.
“Don't make this about buying my forgiveness.”
He flinched.
I continued.
“Hope doesn't need your money to erase what happened. She needs to grow up in a world where men like you can't hurt people and walk away.”
Grant stared.
Then he nodded.
“Turn it on.”
For the next two hours, Grant described his family's involvement in the warehouse investigation.
He admitted pressuring Luis.
He admitted withholding information.
He acknowledged that he had used his influence at the hospital to intimidate me.
Rebecca asked:
“Did you strike Mrs. Reed?”
Grant looked at me.
“Yes.”
“Did she threaten you?”
“No.”
“Did you believe you had the authority to fire her?”
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
He swallowed.
“I had no legal authority to do that.”
I watched him.
For the first time, Grant Wexler was answering questions he couldn't control.
When the recording ended, he stood.
“I know this doesn't make things right.”
I looked at him.
“No.”
He nodded.
Then said quietly:
“I'll testify.”
Outside the office, a black sedan waited across the street.
Inside sat Victor Wexler.
He watched his brother leave.
Then took out his phone.
“Grant's talking,” he said.
A voice answered.
“What do you want done?”
May you like
Victor looked toward Rebecca's office.
“Make sure the nurse never reaches a courtroom.”
