Chapter 9
Diane tried to bargain.
She offered to reveal where the stolen trust money went if prosecutors reduced charges.
They refused at first.
Then she dangled something worse.
Another name.
A man who helped move Lucy between safe houses, storage rooms, and the restaurant.
I thought I could not be shocked again.
I was wrong.
The man was my brother, Evan.
Grace called me crying.
“Tell me it’s not true.”
I could not.
Evan had hated Lucy for years.
He said she took advantage of me.
He said Jack needed “real family.”
Diane paid off his gambling debts.
In exchange, he helped transport Lucy after the first week, when Diane realized keeping her in one place was risky.
Evan was arrested at work.
He called me from jail.
“Mark, I didn’t know she’d keep her that long.”
I almost dropped the phone.
“That long?”
“She said Lucy needed to dry out and calm down.”
“Lucy was tied up.”
“I never saw that.”
“You didn’t want to see it.”
Silence.
Then he said, “Don’t let this destroy Grace.”
I laughed once.
Even then, he wanted me managing damage for everyone but the woman harmed.
I hung up.
Telling Lucy was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
She listened quietly.
Then said, “Your family always thought my pain was inconvenient.”
May you like
I had no defense.
Only shame.
