Chapter 8: What Terrence Vail Was Afraid Of
Diane's office was on the fourth floor of a building downtown, with windows that looked out over a gray November street.
She had a second chair pulled up beside her desk when we arrived, and a printed document already open on her blotter.
"Sit down," she said.
"Both of you."
We sat.
"Terrence Vail's attorney called at seven this morning," she said.
"His name is Forsythe.
He was very polite.
He said his client had no involvement in any domestic matter and wanted to make that clear."
"Why would he call about a domestic matter?" Brooke asked.
"He wouldn't.
He called because the domestic matter led to recordings that mention his client by name." Diane turned the document toward us.
"Forsythe asked, in very careful language, whether any of the recordings in your possession contained references to specific financial transactions, account numbers, or communications between Grant and Mr.
Vail."
"What did you tell him?"
"I told him I couldn't comment on the contents of privileged evidence." She paused.
"He then asked whether you would consider a conversation.
Informal.
Off the record."
Brooke looked at the document.
"He wants to know what I have."
"Yes."
"What does that mean for me?"
"It means Vail is worried." Diane folded her hands.
"The investigation into him has been ongoing for fourteen months.
If your recordings contain communications that connect him directly to the account transfers — specific amounts, dates, instructions — that is material the investigators don't currently have."
"They would want it," Brooke said.
"They already want it.
Detective Haskell called me this morning as well.
Separately from Forsythe.
He asked whether you'd be willing to speak with the financial crimes unit."
Brooke was quiet.
"If I cooperate with the investigation," she said slowly, "what does that mean for the divorce case?"
"It doesn't weaken it.
If anything, it strengthens your position.
It establishes that Grant was engaged in conduct that endangered your financial security and that he concealed it from you throughout the marriage." Diane picked up a pen.
"It also puts you on the right side of this.
Which matters."
"And if Vail's people decide they don't want me cooperating?"
Diane looked at her steadily.
"That's why we're having this conversation in my office and not over the phone."
Brooke sat back.
She looked at the window.
"The message my mother received last night," she said.
"And the one she got after we left the station.
Are those connected to Vail?"
"We don't know yet.
The police are tracing them."
"But it's possible."
"It's possible."
I had been sitting quietly, but I spoke then.
"Someone told me outside the restaurant that Grant had friends who wouldn't want their names in a legal filing.
He said it like it was a warning."
Diane wrote something down.
"I'll need you to put that in writing.
Exactly what he said, as close to word for word as you can."
"I can do that."
She looked at Brooke.
"I want to be honest with you.
This has become more complicated than a standard divorce filing.
The financial crimes element, the potential witness intimidation — these are serious.
They also, frankly, give you more protection than you would have had otherwise.
People under federal scrutiny are very motivated to avoid additional charges."
"So the more dangerous this gets," Brooke said, "the safer I am."
"In a manner of speaking."
Brooke almost smiled.
It wasn't a happy smile.
It was the smile of someone recognizing a very specific kind of irony.
"What do you need me to decide today?" she asked.
"Whether you're willing to speak with the financial crimes unit.
If yes, I'll arrange it and I'll be present for every conversation.
Nothing happens without me in the room."
Brooke didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
"Good." Diane closed the document.
"One more thing.
Grant's mother called my office this morning."
Brooke looked up.
"She left a message.
She said she wanted to speak with you directly.
She said she had information that you needed to hear before this went any further."
"What kind of information?"
"She didn't say." Diane paused.
"I don't recommend you speak with her without me present.
But I also think you should know she called.
Because in my experience, when the mother calls the attorney's office — she's not calling to defend her son."
The room was quiet.
Brooke looked at me.
"She's calling to protect herself," Brooke said.
May you like
Diane said nothing.
But she didn't disagree.
