Charles exhaled slowly.
“Ethan, listen to me. Whatever that woman tells the police, you need counsel before answering anything.”
“Why?”
“Because she’s unstable.”
Lauren’s eyes narrowed.
There.
Immediate character assassination.
Prepared too quickly.
Ethan asked, “What makes you say that?”
“I’ve had concerns for months.”
“You hired her.”
“I hired hundreds of people.”
“You recruited her personally.”
Silence.
Then Charles’s voice changed.
“Is Lauren with you?”
Ethan looked at his wife.
“Yes.”
“Put her on.”
Lauren leaned toward the phone.
“I’m here.”
Charles paused.
“Lauren. I heard there were complications. Are you all right?”
“Interesting question.”
“Why?”
“Because eleven days ago my brakes failed.”
Silence.
Naomi watched the audio recorder running beside the phone.
Charles finally said, “What does that have to do with me?”
Lauren glanced at Ethan.
She had never said it had anything to do with Charles.
Not once.
“Why would it have anything to do with you?”
