But one person on the recording had never been identified.
A woman whose back was turned to the camera.
Caroline.
Alex believed so now.
“She isn't protecting Martin,” Maya said.
“She is protecting herself.”
“And Jake?” I asked.
“Raised inside it.”
Sophie looked sick.
“My entire marriage was fake.”
I sat beside her.
“Your love wasn't fake.”
She looked at me.
“You loved who you believed he was. That's different.”
Her eyes filled.
“I told him everything.”
“What?”
“My passwords. My routines. The condo. Dad.”
Alex looked sharply at her.
“What about me?”
“Jake always asked why we didn't talk. He said maybe I should forgive you.”
“When?”
“For months.”
The room became silent.
Alex spoke first.
“He was gathering information.”
Sophie covered her mouth.
Every romantic conversation.
Every gentle question.
Every moment Jake pretended to care about reconciling father and daughter.
Research.
The cruelty of it seemed almost impossible.
