My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“We reviewed communications between Malcolm and Kristen.”
I sat straighter.
“And?”
“Some messages suggest they expected you to transfer controlling interests in Cedarline voluntarily.”
I stared at the wall.
“Why would they think I’d do that?”
Grant paused.
“Because they believed they could create circumstances that would make you afraid of what happened if you refused.”
My hands began trembling.
“Like Trevor attacking me?”
“We’re investigating whether anyone encouraged or anticipated that violence.”
I covered my mouth.
The memory returned.
Trevor standing over me.
Kristen watching.
Malcolm’s name appearing in documents.
A year of secret meetings.
Had my son simply lost control?
Or had someone been waiting for him to frighten me into surrendering everything?
***
That night, Kristen appeared at my front door.
I saw her through the security camera.
She looked exhausted.
Her mascara had run.
She kept glancing toward the street.
I didn’t open the door.
