“I never meant—”
“Intent does not erase access.”
The detective interrupted gently.
“We should examine the drive.”
The first folder contained Meridian financial documents.
The second contained internal Cole Vector emails.
The third was named C.C.
Charles Cole.
Inside were fourteen audio recordings.
Madison had secretly recorded him.
The first was mostly boring.
A restaurant.
Glasses clinking.
Charles discussing board members.
The second contained instructions about travel schedules.
The third changed everything.
Charles’s voice came through the conference-room speakers.
Calm.
Controlled.
unmistakable.
“Ethan listens to Lauren.”
A woman’s voice answered.
Madison.
“He also resents her.”
“Everyone resents the person capable of stopping them.”
“What exactly do you want me to do?”
“I want my son thinking emotionally before the vote.”
A pause.
“You want me to sleep with him?”
Charles laughed softly.
“I’m not paying you to knit.”
Ethan pushed away from the table.
“No.”
Nobody looked at him.
