Chapter 9: Garrett Makes His Move
Patricia Voss called me Wednesday morning at eight-fifteen.
Her voice was the kind that made you want to take notes.
"I've reviewed everything Diane forwarded," she said.
"The threat about your employer is the most actionable item.
I'd like to send a letter to Garrett Henderson today — formal, documented, making clear that any contact with your firm or any professional associate constitutes defamation and tortious interference, and that you have a full record of his communications.
In my experience, that kind of letter ends most threats immediately."
"Do it," I said.
"I'll also want to discuss the financial transfers with you in more detail when you're back in Columbus.
If Carson is willing to provide a statement, that strengthens your position considerably."
"He said he's willing."
A brief pause.
"That's significant.
It changes the shape of this considerably."
We went over the details.
I answered her questions.
By the time we hung up, I felt the way I feel at the end of a well-run audit — everything accounted for, nothing left floating.
Patricia's letter went out that afternoon.
Garrett called Carson at four o'clock.
I know because Carson called me immediately after and put me on speaker without telling Garrett.
"She's got a lawyer now?" Garrett's voice was loud through the phone.
"Over a vacation?
This is insane, Carson.
You need to shut this down."
"I can't shut it down, Garrett."
"What does that mean, you can't?
She's your wife.
Tell her to back off."
"She's not going to back off."
"Then make her." A pause.
"Look, I said some things I probably shouldn't have.
About her job.
I was frustrated.
I didn't mean it."
"You said it twice.
She has it documented."
"It was a bluff, Carson.
I wasn't actually going to call her firm.
I just needed her to calm down."
"She's calm," Carson said.
"That's the problem."
Silence on the line.
"What does she want?" Garrett said finally.
His voice had changed.
The bluster was still there but something underneath it had shifted.
"She wants the account closed.
The transfers stopped.
And she wants you to leave her alone."
"That's it?"
"That's the minimum."
"And if I do that, she drops the lawyer?"
Carson looked at me.
I shook my head once.
"I don't know," Carson said.
"Carson." Garrett's voice went low.
"We're brothers.
This woman has been in your life for three years.
I've been in your life for forty-five.
Don't let her turn you against your own family."
"She didn't turn me against anyone.
I turned myself against you when I let you threaten her career."
A long silence.
"So that's how it is."
"That's how it is."
The line went quiet for a moment.
Then Garrett said, very carefully: "You know I have things I could say too.
About you.
About choices you've made.
Things Brenda doesn't know."
My hands went still.
Carson's jaw tightened.
"Say whatever you need to say, Garrett."
"Don't push me."
"I'm not pushing you.
I'm telling you it's over.
Close the account.
Stop the transfers.
And don't contact Brenda or her employer."
Another silence.
Longer this time.
"Fine," Garrett said.
The word came out flat and hard, like a door slamming in an empty house.
"Fine.
But don't call me when this falls apart.
Don't call me when she decides she's done with you too and you've got nothing left."
"Goodbye, Garrett."
Carson ended the call.
We sat in silence for a moment.
"What did he mean?" I said quietly.
"About things you've done.
Things I don't know."
Carson looked at me steadily.
"There's nothing.
He does that.
When he's losing, he implies there's more.
There never is." He paused.
"But if there's anything you want to ask me — anything at all — ask me now.
I'd rather you hear it from me."
I looked at him for a long moment.
"Is there anything I should be asking?"
"No," he said.
"There isn't."
I believed him.
Not blindly.
Not the way I had believed him before, without checking.
But the way you believe a number after you've run it twice and it comes out the same both times.
"Okay," I said.
He nodded.
Outside the hotel window, the evening light was coming in low and golden over the rooftops of Cape May.
"Carson," I said.
"There's one more thing."
He waited.
"I want to go to the beach tomorrow.
Just us.
No Garrett.
No Paige.
No chore list." I looked at him.
"I came here for a vacation."
Something crossed his face that I hadn't seen in a long time.
May you like
"Yeah," he said quietly.
"You did."
