Chapter 11 - BRENDA SURRENDERS
Brenda asked for an attorney before answering questions.
But she said enough to change the investigation.
She claimed Robert had been the mastermind.
She said he manipulated her.
Threatened her.
Forced her to follow his instructions.
Sarah watched the recorded interview with disbelief.
Brenda cried convincingly.
“Robert told me Sarah was stealing what belonged to our family.”
Detective Hale remained expressionless.
“And the powder in Noah’s bottle?”
Brenda’s face changed.
“I didn’t know what it was.”
“You emptied an unknown substance into an infant’s bottle.”
“He told me it would only make the baby sick.”
Sarah stood so fast that her chair scraped the floor.
Mark caught her arm.
“She knew.”
Sarah’s voice shook.
“She looked at Noah and did it anyway.”
Hale continued questioning Brenda.
“What did Robert promise you?”
“Control of the trust.”
“And after that?”
“We would move the money.”
“Where?”
“I don’t know.”
Detective Hale placed several financial statements in front of her.
“You transferred money to his company for years.”
Brenda looked down.
“He handled investments.”
“He helped you hide stolen funds.”
Silence.
“He also helped cover up your mother’s death.”
Brenda’s head snapped upward.
“That’s a lie.”
“We have a witness.”
Brenda’s confidence disappeared.
Hale leaned closer.
“Did you interfere with Catherine Caldwell’s vehicle?”
“No.”
“Did Robert?”
“No.”
“Then why did he pay a mechanic?”
Brenda said nothing.
Sarah watched her carefully.
This was the first moment Brenda looked truly afraid.
Not ashamed.
Not guilty.
Afraid.
Hale shifted topics.
“Your father.”
Brenda’s eyes narrowed.
“What about him?”
“Did you know William suspected his medication had been tampered with?”
“I don’t know anything about that.”
“Robert visited him the evening before his death.”
Brenda looked confused.
“No, he didn’t.”
Hale paused.
“How do you know?”
Brenda realized her mistake.
Sarah leaned toward Mark.
“She knows something.”
Hale asked again.
“How do you know Robert did not visit William?”
Brenda looked toward her attorney.
No answer.
But investigators now had another lead.
Security records at William’s house had been deleted.
The backup server still contained fragments.
At 9:18 p.m., the night before William died, someone entered using a family access code.
The code belonged to Brenda.
Mark stared at the report.
“She was there.”
Sarah nodded.
Brenda had denied seeing William for three days before his death.
That was a lie.
When confronted, Brenda changed her story.
She admitted visiting.
She claimed William had called her.
“He wanted to reconcile.”
“Did you enter his bedroom?”
“Yes.”
“Did you touch his medication?”
“No.”
“Did you prepare his drink?”
Brenda hesitated.
Sarah saw it.
So did Hale.
“I poured water.”
Hale placed another photograph on the table.
It showed a glass recovered from William’s room after his death.
At the time, nobody considered it evidence.
Now it had been located among retained personal effects.
The glass would be tested.
Brenda’s attorney ended the interview.
As she was escorted away, Brenda suddenly turned toward the observation glass.
She could not see Sarah.
But somehow her eyes seemed to find her anyway.
Then Brenda spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear.
“You think Elena saved your baby?”
Sarah froze.
May you like
Brenda smiled.
“You should ask why Elena was recording before I ever touched that bottle.”
