Chapter 18 - Marlene Shaw's Greatest Betrayal|
The truth about Marlene Shaw arrived inside a sealed envelope.
Nadine placed it on her desk.
Then looked at me.
“June, we need to discuss something uncomfortable.”
My stomach tightened.
“What?”
“Marlene knew the necklace might be used in a fraudulent transaction before Colin gave it to you.”
I stared.
“I know. She told me she was suspicious.”
Nadine shook her head.
“It's more than that.”
She opened the envelope.
Inside was a letter Marlene had sent to an independent auditor several weeks before my anniversary.
The letter identified potential irregularities in the collateral vault.
It specifically mentioned the possibility that the emerald necklace could be removed without authorization.
And it named Colin Mercer as someone whose transactions required examination.
I read the letter twice.
Then looked up.
“She suspected him.”
“Yes.”
“And she didn't warn me?”
Nadine hesitated.
“We don't know everything she knew.”
I stood.
“I want to speak with her.”
An hour later, I confronted Marlene in her private study.
She looked exhausted.
Eleven years of grief seemed written into every line of her face.
But I wasn't there to comfort her.
“You knew.”
She looked up.
“June?”
“You suspected Colin was involved in fraudulent transfers.”
Her expression changed.
“Yes.”
“And you let him give me the necklace.”
“I didn't know he would do that.”
“But you knew he was dangerous.”
She lowered her gaze.
“Yes.”
I felt anger rising in my chest.
“In my position, what would you have done?”
Marlene didn't answer.
I stepped closer.
“Would you have stayed silent while someone placed stolen collateral around your neck?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“No.”
“Then why did you wait until I called you?”
She covered her mouth.
For several seconds, she seemed unable to speak.
Then she whispered:
“Because I was afraid.”
The admission surprised me.
Marlene Shaw.
The powerful philanthropist.
The woman everyone treated with reverence.
Afraid.
“Of Roland?” I asked.
She nodded.
“And of losing the only chance I had to discover what happened to Elise.”
I looked away.
For a moment, we sat in painful silence.
Then Marlene spoke again.
“I thought if Roland moved the necklace, an independent audit would finally expose him.”
“You used the necklace as bait.”
“Yes.”
“And you didn't consider who might get hurt.”
Tears slipped down her cheeks.
“I considered it. I just convinced myself I could control the danger.”
I stared at her.
“That sounds exactly like Colin.”
Marlene flinched.
I immediately regretted the cruelty.
But I didn't withdraw the words.
She wiped her tears.
“You're right.”
I sat down.
“I'm not willing to be anyone's sacrifice.”
Marlene nodded.
“You shouldn't be.”
A long silence passed.
Then she reached across the desk.
“June, I can't undo what I failed to prevent.”
Her voice trembled.
“But I can help expose every person involved.”
I looked at her hand.
Then at her face.
“I'll work with you.”
Hope flickered in her eyes.
“But you don't get to make decisions for me.”
She nodded.
“Agreed.”
“And whatever evidence you have, Nadine sees all of it.”
“Agreed.”
For the first time, our alliance felt honest.
Not because I trusted Marlene completely.
But because I knew exactly where that trust ended.
Before leaving, I asked one final question.
“Did you ever suspect Roland had something to do with Elise's death?”
Marlene looked toward her daughter's photograph.
Her expression slowly changed.
“Yes.”
I swallowed.
“Then why did you stay married to him?”
She stared at me for a long moment.
May you like
Then whispered:
“Because leaving would have warned him that I knew.”
