“Don’t be dramatic. I sent her the packet you gave me for your internship applications.”
Caitlyn stared at him.
“That included my personal references and paperwork.”
“It’s not classified.”
“That’s not the point!”
My mother stepped between them.
“Everyone needs to calm down.”
“No,” Caitlyn said sharply. “I want to know why you sent my information to somebody without asking me.”
Michael’s frustration flashed.
“Because Lauren works with important people. Because Dad wanted to help you. Because some of us care about your future.”
“And what did Lauren give you?” I asked.
He froze.
I knew that reaction.
I had seen it on the faces of businessmen, informants, and officials who realized a conversation had turned from friendly questioning into something else.
“What are you implying?”
“I’m asking what she gave you.”
“Nothing.”
I held his gaze.
“Michael.”
He swallowed.
“A consulting contract.”
My father closed his eyes.
I stared at my brother.
“How much?”
“That’s private.”
“How much?”
He looked at our mother.
“Two hundred thousand dollars.”
Caitlyn made a broken sound.
My mother sat down suddenly in a nearby chair.
Michael raised both hands.
“It was legitimate legal consulting!”
“Did you disclose your family’s connection to the company?”
“Of course.”
“Did you know the company was under investigation?”
His mouth opened.
Then closed.
And I realized he’d known enough to be frightened.
We moved into a vacant office adjoining the auditorium.
Hayes had remained with Daniel, coordinating with security.
I wanted my family to have one final opportunity to tell the truth before investigators separated us.
My father stood beside the window.
My mother cried quietly.
Michael paced.
Caitlyn remained beside me.
The contrast with our childhood was almost unbearable.
Growing up, Caitlyn always sat beside Dad.
I was the stubborn daughter who questioned everything.
Now she was standing with me.
And our father had never looked more alone.
“Tell us about Victor,” I said.
Robert shook his head.
“I’ve known him thirty years.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“He’s done a great deal for this family.”
“Such as?”
“Helped with financial problems.”
My mother lifted her head.
“Robert, please.”
I turned toward her.
“What financial problems?”
She looked away.
“After your father’s retirement, there were investments. Things went badly.”
“How badly?”
Silence.
Then Michael spoke.
“They nearly lost the house.”
I stared.
Our family home was a sprawling brick Colonial in Annapolis.
My parents had always acted as though money was beneath discussion.
They hosted charity dinners.
Donated to alumni events.
Attended naval reunions.
And now I was learning they’d nearly lost everything.
“Victor helped,” my father said.
“Out of generosity?”
Robert said nothing.
I understood.
Money had been Victor’s first hook.
Then friendship.
Then secrets.
Then fear.
“What did he ask for in return?”
My father looked out the window.
“Nothing at first.”
“And later?”
My mother began shaking her head.
“Robert, don’t.”
But for once, he didn’t obey her.
“He wanted me to sign a statement.”
“What statement?”
“After Andrew Cross died.”
My pulse quickened.
“What did it say?”
“That I had reviewed the procurement concerns and found no evidence of wrongdoing.”
“And had you?”
Silence.
“Dad.”
He turned.
For the first time that day, his eyes met mine without anger.
“No.”
The word was barely audible.
Caitlyn started crying again.
I gripped the back of a chair.
“You signed it anyway.”
He nodded.
“Why?”
Robert’s face crumpled.
“Because Victor said your mother would lose everything if I didn’t.”
I stared at him.
“You chose a house over the truth.”
“It wasn’t that simple.”
“It never is for people who make other people pay for their decisions.”
My voice was calm.
Almost painfully calm.
My father flinched.
“I thought I could fix it later.”
“Did you try?”
He lowered his eyes.
“No.”
Fifteen years of anger rose inside me.
Not explosive.
Not loud.
Just a devastating clarity.
He hadn’t disowned me because he believed I was dishonest.
He’d disowned me because my honesty threatened the lie he had chosen to live with.
“And when I found the documents?” I asked.
“You wouldn’t stop asking questions.”
“So you threw me out.”
“I thought if you left, Victor would lose interest in you.”
I shook my head.
“No. You told everyone I was unstable. You made sure nobody would believe me.”
His silence confirmed it.
Caitlyn whispered, “Dad, how could you?”
Robert looked at her desperately.
“I was protecting this family.”
“No,” she said. “You were protecting yourself.”
The words struck him harder than anything I’d said.
Then the office door opened.
Admiral Hayes entered.
His expression was grim.
“Commander, we have a development.”
I turned.
“What happened?”
“Victor Sloane left the installation perimeter before our investigators could speak with him.”
My stomach tightened.
“Did security identify his vehicle?”
“Yes.”
“Where did he go?”
Hayes hesitated.
