Chapter 12 - THE EMAIL BROOKE FOUND
Brooke called me at 6:12 the next morning.
“I found something.”
Her voice was barely above a whisper.
We met in the hospital chapel. Maisie was stable, but Brooke refused to leave the building.
She handed me a tablet.
“I searched Grant’s old email account.”
“You had access?”
“We share passwords. Or I thought we did.”
On the screen was an email sent from Grant to Judith four days after Liam’s genetic appointment.
Dr. Levin says Mara must be told before Liam gets another fever.
Judith had replied eleven minutes later.
Mara turns every medical issue into a catastrophe. Let Liam finish the campaign shoot and tournament. We will address it afterward.
Grant wrote:
What if something happens?
Judith answered:
Nothing is going to happen in three weeks.
Brooke scrolled down.
A second email had been sent the night Liam died.
It was time-stamped 1:48 a.m.
Mom, you need to call Mara now. Liam has a fever and the test said fever matters.
Judith responded at 2:03.
He is sleeping. I gave him medicine. Stop panicking.
At 2:36, Grant wrote:
Check him again.
There was no response.
The emergency call was placed at 3:11.
By then, Liam had no pulse.
I gripped the edge of the pew.
“Where was Grant?”
“Chicago. A business conference.”
“He knew Liam had a fever.”
Brooke nodded.
“He knew the genetic report said fever could trigger an arrhythmia.”
“Yes.”
“He still didn’t call me.”
Tears ran down her face.
“I’m sorry.”
I looked at her sharply.
“You didn’t do this.”
“I married him.”
“So did I.”
Brooke covered her mouth.
“There’s more.”
She opened another folder.
Grant had forwarded the emails to a private account two days after Liam’s funeral. He had saved them.
He had not forgotten.
He had not misunderstood.
He had preserved proof that Judith ignored the warning and then allowed me to believe I had missed the danger.
“Why would he keep these?” Brooke asked.
“Insurance.”
“Against his own mother?”
“Grant does not trust people. He collects leverage.”
Brooke stared toward the chapel doors.
“Then maybe his mother collected leverage too.”
Her phone rang.
Judith’s name appeared on the screen.
Brooke rejected the call.
A text arrived immediately.
Do not speak to Mara again. I am arranging Maisie’s transfer.
Brooke stood.
May you like
“She’s doing what?”
I was already moving.
