Chapter 14 - Richard Starts Talking
Richard Harrington requested protective custody the following morning.
By afternoon, he requested a meeting with prosecutors.
By evening, he requested Harrison.
Harrison nearly refused.
Khloe surprised him.
"Go."
"Why?"
"Because if he's afraid enough to ask for you, he's ready to betray Voss."
Harrison looked at her.
"You don't want to hear what he says?"
"No."
"Not yet."
Richard sat behind reinforced glass in a secure interview room.
Bruising covered one side of his face.
His arrogance was gone.
Harrison took the chair across from him.
"You asked for me."
Richard stared at him.
"Voss tried to have me killed."
"Allegedly."
"You know he did."
"I know many things."
"I need a deal."
"I'm not the prosecutor."
"But they listen to you."
"Sometimes."
Richard leaned forward.
"I can give them Voss."
Harrison remained silent.
"Records."
"Meetings."
"Payments."
"People."
"Stephen Mercer."
"Vanessa."
"Everything."
"And what do you want?"
"Protection."
"You already have protective custody."
"For my mother too."
Harrison's eyes narrowed.
"Why Margaret?"
Richard looked down.
"Because Voss contacted her."
"When?"
"Yesterday."
"How?"
"Someone delivered a message."
"What message?"
Richard swallowed.
"'Your son caused enough trouble.'"
Harrison leaned back.
"Anything else?"
Richard looked toward the camera.
Then spoke quietly.
"The courthouse wasn't supposed to happen like that."
Harrison's expression went cold.
"Explain."
"The plan was to pressure Khloe."
"Pressure."
"Get her to sign temporary control."
"With a forged incapacity agreement ready if she refused."
Richard closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"And Vanessa?"
"She was supposed to scare her."
"How?"
"Threaten to expose the affair."
"Humiliate her."
"Make her believe I'd leave her with nothing."
Harrison leaned closer.
"Did you know Vanessa might physically hurt her?"
"No."
"Did you tell Vanessa your life would be easier if Khloe died?"
Richard's face collapsed.
"I said things."
"Answer."
"Yes."
Harrison stared at him.
Richard began crying.
"I didn't mean it."
"She heard you."
"What?"
"Vanessa heard you say it after the fall."
Richard looked horrified.
"She told you?"
"She told everyone."
Richard leaned back.
For several moments, neither man spoke.
Then Richard whispered.
"I loved Khloe."
Harrison's jaw tightened.
"No."
"I did."
"No."
"You don't get to redefine love until it covers what you did."
Richard looked away.
Harrison continued.
"You stole from her."
"You forged her signature."
"You planned to strip her of control while she was medically vulnerable."
"You brought your mistress to confront her."
"You watched her fall."
"And while my niece was fighting to survive, you were thinking about company shares."
Richard cried silently.
Harrison did not stop.
"You didn't love Khloe."
"You loved what Khloe made possible."
Richard's shoulders sank.
Then he said something unexpected.
"There's a recording."
Harrison froze.
"What recording?"
"Voss."
"Where?"
"A safe."
"Whose safe?"
"Mine."
"Police searched your office."
"Not that one."
Richard explained.
A private storage unit outside Harrisburg.
Inside was a phone.
On that phone was a recording of Charles Voss discussing Khloe.
"What does he say?"
May you like
Richard stared through the glass.
"He says accidents solve ownership problems faster than courts."
