Chapter 10: The Last Conversation
Brian called Dennis back from the kitchen while I sat at the table and Carol listened from the hallway.
He put the call on speaker without Dennis knowing.
"You went to my house," Dennis said.
His voice was even.
Controlled.
"Warren went to my wife's office," Brian said.
"That wasn't my call."
"Then whose was it?"
A pause.
"Brian.
I need to know where we stand.
The people Warren works for are not patient.
If the documents surface in the wrong place, it doesn't matter what story either of us tells — they will come looking for their money."
"I understand that."
"Do you?
Because I'm not sure you do." Dennis's voice dropped.
"I have protected you in this.
Your name is on one account.
One.
I could have made it three.
I could have made it look like a partnership from the beginning.
I didn't."
"You forged my signature," Brian said.
Silence.
"I used a document system we both had access to.
That's not—"
"You forged my signature, Dennis.
On an account I didn't open, to receive money you stole from our clients."
Another silence.
Longer.
"Where are the documents, Brian."
Not a question.
"I think you know I'm not going to answer that."
"I'm trying to give you a way out of this.
If you hand over what you have, I can make sure your name stays clean.
I have the resources to do that.
But if you go another direction—" He stopped.
"Your daughter goes to Westfield Middle, doesn't she?"
Brian's hand came down on the table.
I grabbed his arm.
"Don't," I said quietly.
He looked at me.
His eyes were very dark.
"Dennis," he said.
His voice was steady.
"I'm going to say this once.
Whatever you think you're going to do — don't."
"I'm not threatening anyone.
I'm making an observation."
"You just mentioned my daughter's school.
That is not an observation."
"Brian—"
"We're done talking." He ended the call.
The kitchen was silent.
Carol stepped in from the hallway.
"That last part," she said.
"About Maddie's school.
That was recorded."
Brian looked at the phone on the table.
"Yes," he said.
"That changes the charge profile significantly." She was already dialing Ruth.
"Threatening a witness's family member — even implied — that's a separate count."
I looked at Brian.
"We need to move faster," I said.
"I know."
He picked up the phone and called the FBI field office.
He had the number already saved.
May you like
He'd had it for two months.
He just hadn't used it until now.
