Everything became clear.
He meant to put me in a public place, encourage me to drink and get photographed by Marcus. The restaurant was close enough to the cabin to corroborate the story I got there in the car in a confusing state.
I smiled.
“It looks perfect.”
After David went upstairs, I sent only one word to Karen:
Saturday.
When the evening came, we had prepared carefully.
Marcus had issued a sworn statement to Karen. His payment records showed transfers linked to David. The request for protection had already been filed in court, which meant Karen could legally get copies without having to use anything I had found in her office.
At the restaurant, David behaved like the affectionate husband she wanted to show everyone.
He moved my chair and ordered me wine without me asking.
I never touched it.
“You’ve been looking tired lately,” he said. “I’m worried about you.”
“I was worried too.”
Then I slipped a folder on the table.
David opened it.
The color disappeared from his face.
Inside were copies of his forged notes, Marcus’s payment records, security documents and correspondence related to the cabin.
“I know about Marcus,” I said in a low voice. “I know you’re trying to make me declare myself incapable of understanding and wanting so that I can control and sell my properties.”
David quickly regained his calm.
“Rachel, you’re misunderstanding what you discovered.”
“Am I forgetting things again?”
His voice got harder.
“You went into my office. Everything you have taken is inadmissible.”
“I didn’t need anything from your office. Marcus made a formal statement. The receipts of the payments came from his account and the safeguard documents were filed with the court.”
For the first time, David didn't have a prepared answer.
