Chapter 15 - NOAH FINDS THE AUDIO
Noah was not supposed to open Mark’s digital recorder.
He did.
Teenagers have historically poor respect for evidentiary boundaries.
He came downstairs white-faced.
“Mom.”
“What?”
“You need this.”
I called Dana before listening further.
She nearly yelled.
“Stop touching things.”
“Tell that to him.”
“Noah.”
“Sorry.”
Not very.
The recording was preserved.
Then reviewed.
Mark’s voice.
Weak.
Richard’s stronger.
Recorded in Mark’s office three months before death.
RICHARD:
You think you can humiliate me now because you’re sick?
MARK:
This isn’t about humiliation.
RICHARD:
You owe this family everything.
MARK:
I owe Laura and my kids honesty.
I closed my eyes.
RICHARD:
Then tell them you signed guarantees.
MARK:
One.
RICHARD:
Three.
MARK:
One.
Then:
RICHARD:
When you die, she’ll sell the house and take the money out of the family.
MARK:
It’s her house.
RICHARD:
My father’s money bought it.
MARK:
Grandpa gave me the money.
RICHARD:
Same difference.
MARK:
No.
Then Mark said:
If you touch Laura’s home after I’m gone, you’ll prove every reason I moved it.
Richard became quiet.
He knew about the trust transfer.
May you like
So why act anyway?
Because he believed he could invalidate it.
