Chapter 8: My Sister's Hidden Bargain
The discovery of the altered report changed the investigation.
It also 8: My Sister's Hidden Bargain
The discovery of the altered report changed the investigation.
It also changed my family.
By the time I left St. Philip's Church, the reception had been moved to a nearby hotel, where changed my family.
By the time I left St. Philip's Church, the reception had been moved to a nearby hotel, where Madison's guests were waiting beneath crystal chandeliers and golden lights. I had intended to return to my room, contact Madison's guests were waiting beneath crystal chandeliers and golden lights. I had intended to return to my room, contact my command, and prepare for the formal interview Rebecca had scheduled.
Instead, I found my mother standing alone beside my command, and prepare for the formal interview Rebecca had scheduled.
Instead, I found my mother standing alone beside the hotel elevators.
She was holding a small paper cup of coffee she hadn't touched.
“Olivia,” she said.
“Please don't the hotel elevators.
She was holding a small paper cup of coffee she hadn't touched.
“Olivia,” she said.
“Please don't leave yet.””
I stopped.
“Mom, I'm exhausted.””
“I know.””
Her eyes were red.
“Mad leave yet.””
I stopped.
“Mom, I'm exhausted.””
“I know.””
Her eyes were red.
“Madison is upstairs. Ethan is with her, but they aren't speaking.””
I looked toward the elevator.
“What do you want me toison is upstairs. Ethan is with her, but they aren't speaking.””
I looked toward the elevator.
“What do you want me to do?””
“Talk to her.””
I almost said no.
Then I saw the photograph in my mother's hand.
It was an old family picture, taken in do?””
“Talk to her.””
I almost said no.
Then I saw the photograph in my mother's hand.
It was an old family picture, taken in our backyard when I was twenty-two. I stood beside Dad, wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans. our backyard when I was twenty-two.
I stood beside Dad, wearing a plain T-shirt and jeans. Madison was perched on his shoulders, laughing so hard her eyes were closed.
We had been happy.
Not because life was easy, but because we still believed we could fix Madison was perched on his shoulders, laughing so hard her eyes were closed.
We had been happy.
Not because life was easy, but because we still believed we could fix anything by sitting around the kitchen table long enough.
“Why are you carrying that?”” I asked.
anything by sitting around the kitchen table long enough.
“Why are you carrying that?”” I asked.
Diane looked down at it.
“Because I don't know how I letDiane looked down at it.
“Because I don't know how I let things become this bad.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I thought I was helping both of you. When you left for the Army, Madison cried for weeks. She things become this bad.””
She took a shaky breath.
“I thought I was helping both of you. When you left for the Army, Madison cried for weeks. She kept asking when you'd come home.
I told her you were doing something important, and she kept asking when you'd come home. I told her you were doing something important, and she needed to be proud of you.””
I listened without interrupting.
“But she was angry. She felt abandoned. And every time you needed to be proud of you.””
I listened without interrupting.
“But she was angry. She felt abandoned. And every time you called, you were always calm. You never told us when things were difficult.””
“I thought I was protecting you called, you were always calm. You never told us when things were difficult.””
“I thought I was protecting you.””
“I know that now.””
She rubbed her thumb over the edge of the photograph.
“When your.””
“I know that now.””
She rubbed her thumb over the edge of the photograph.
“When your father died, Madison was the one who stayed beside me. She helped arrange the funeral. She handled the father died, Madison was the one who stayed beside me. She helped arrange the funeral.
She handled the paperwork. She made sure I ate. And I leaned on her so much that I forgot she was still grieving too.””
I looked at the floor paperwork. She made sure I ate. And I leaned on her so much that I forgot she was still grieving too.””
I looked at the floor.
“You didn't forget me because you didn't love me,” I said.
“You forgot that.
“You didn't forget me because you didn't love me,” I said.
“You forgot that I needed someone to ask how I was doing.””
Diane nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Yes I needed someone to ask how I was doing.””
Diane nodded, tears spilling down her cheeks.
“Yes.””
For a moment, I wanted to tell her everything was all right.
It.””
For a moment, I wanted to tell her everything was all right.
It was an old habit, one I had learned long before I joined the Army.
But it wasn't all right.
was an old habit, one I had learned long before I joined the Army.
But it wasn't all right.
Not yet.
“Mom, I love Madison. But I can't keep pretending her behavior doesn'tNot yet.
“Mom, I love Madison. But I can't keep pretending her behavior doesn't hurt me.””
“I know.””
“And I can't apologize for doing my job or wearing my uniform.””
“I wouldn't ask you to.””
I studied her face.
For the first time that day, I believed hurt me.””
“I know.””
“And I can't apologize for doing my job or wearing my uniform.””
“I wouldn't ask you to.””
I studied her face.
For the first time that day, I believed her.
She squeezed my hand.
“Will you at least talk to her?””
her.
She squeezed my hand.
“Will you at least talk to her?””
I sighed.
“Ten minutes.””
Madison was in the hotel suite, sitting at a dressing table while a bridesmaid removed the pins from her hair. Her wedding dress wasI sighed.
“Ten minutes.””
Madison was in the hotel suite, sitting at a dressing table while a bridesmaid removed the pins from her hair. Her wedding dress was draped over a chair. The bouquet lay abandoned beside an unopened bottle of champagne.
When she saw me, she dismissed draped over a chair. The bouquet lay abandoned beside an unopened bottle of champagne.
When she saw me, she dismissed the bridesmaid.
“Leave us alone, please.””
The door closed.
Madison stared at herself in the the bridesmaid.
“Leave us alone, please.””
The door closed.
Madison stared at herself in the mirror.
“I don't know what I'm supposed to do now.””
“Start by telling the truth.””
She laughed mirror.
“I don't know what I'm supposed to do now.””
“Start by telling the truth.””
She laughed weakly.
“You sound like Ethan.””
“Maybe Ethan has a point.””
She turned toward me.
“Do you think I'm a terrible weakly.
“You sound like Ethan.””
“Maybe Ethan has a point.””
She turned toward me.
“Do you think I'm a terrible person?””
I considered the question.
“I think you did something cruel. That doesn't mean you have to spend person?””
I considered the question.
“I think you did something cruel. That doesn't mean you have to spend the rest of your life being cruel.””
She looked down at her hands.
“I was jealous of you.””
The the rest of your life being cruel.””
She looked down at her hands.
“I was jealous of you.””
The admission surprised me.
“Of me?””
“You were always the one Dad brag admission surprised me.
“Of me?””
“You were always the one Dad bragged about. Even when you weren't home, he talked about you. He'd show people your letters. He'dged about.
Even when you weren't home, he talked about you. He'd show people your letters. He'd tell them about your promotions.
When you came back on leave, everyone wanted to hear your tell them about your promotions. When you came back on leave, everyone wanted to hear your stories.””
She swallowed.
“And I was just Madison. The daughter who lived nearby. The one who got a normal job and got stories.””
She swallowed.
“And I was just Madison. The daughter who lived nearby. The one who got a normal job and got married.””
I sat on the edge of the sofa.
“Dad loved you.””
“I know.””
“He was married.””
I sat on the edge of the sofa.
“Dad loved you.””
“I know.””
“He was proud of you, too.””
“Not in the same way.””
I thought about our father, the man proud of you, too.””
“Not in the same way.””
I thought about our father, the man who had spent years teaching me how to change a tire and helping Madison prepare for her first job interview.
He had never loved us in the same way because who had spent years teaching me how to change a tire and helping Madison prepare for her first job interview.
He had never loved us in the same way because we weren't the same people.
But he had loved us equally.
“Madison, you don't have to compete with me.””
“That's we weren't the same people.
But he had loved us equally.
“Madison, you don't have to compete with me.””
“That's easy for you to say. You have medals and a title and people standing up when you walk into a room.””
I looked at her.
“I also have nightmares easy for you to say. You have medals and a title and people standing up when you walk into a room.””
I looked at her.
“I also have nightmares I don't talk about. Friends whose children will grow up without them. Years I can't get back. And a career that may I don't talk about.
Friends whose children will grow up without them. Years I can't get back. And a career that may have been damaged by a report someone altered without my permission.””
Her expression changed have been damaged by a report someone altered without my permission.””
Her expression changed.
“I didn't know.””
“No. You didn't ask.””
She flinched.
I regretted the sharp.
“I didn't know.””
“No. You didn't ask.””
She flinched.
I regretted the sharpness, but not the truth.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Madison reached into the drawer besideness, but not the truth.
For a while, neither of us spoke.
Then Madison reached into the drawer beside her and removed a folded sheet of paper.
“I need to tell you something.””
I looked at the paper her and removed a folded sheet of paper.
“I need to tell you something.””
I looked at the paper.
“What is it?””
“Before the wedding, Ethan and I were having money.
“What is it?””
“Before the wedding, Ethan and I were having money problems.””
I frowned.
“What kind of problems?””
“The venue cost more than we expected. His problems.””
I frowned.
“What kind of problems?””
“The venue cost more than we expected. His relocation paperwork was delayed, and I put deposits on things relocation paperwork was delayed, and I put deposits on things before we knew what his next assignment would be.””
“How much?””
She hes before we knew what his next assignment would be.””
“How much?””
She hesitated.
“About forty thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
“Madison.””
“I know.””
itated.
“About forty thousand dollars.””
I stared at her.
“Madison.””
“I know.””
“That's a lot of money.””
“I know!””
She stood abruptly, knocking a“That's a lot of money.””
“I know!””
She stood abruptly, knocking a hairbrush onto the floor.
“I thought I could manage it. I thought we'd be fine once hairbrush onto the floor.
“I thought I could manage it. I thought we'd be fine once the wedding was over. But then Ethan found out I'd used some the wedding was over. But then Ethan found out I'd used some of our savings to cover the deposits.””
“Does he know the full amount?””
She of our savings to cover the deposits.””
“Does he know the full amount?””
She didn't answer.
My stomach tightened.
“What did you do?””
She pressed the folded paper into my hand.
It didn't answer.
My stomach tightened.
“What did you do?””
She pressed the folded paper into my hand.
It was a letter from Meridian Strategic Systems.
The company I had identified in the investigation.
The letter offered Madison was a letter from Meridian Strategic Systems.
The company I had identified in the investigation.
The letter offered Madison a temporary consulting position through a private recruiting firm. The compensation was unusually generous, and the assignment involved administrative work connected a temporary consulting position through a private recruiting firm. The compensation was unusually generous, and the assignment involved administrative work connected to military logistics.
I read the page twice.
“Why are you showing me this?””
“Because I think I made a mistake.””
“What kind of mistake?””
She began to military logistics.
I read the page twice.
“Why are you showing me this?””
“Because I think I made a mistake.””
“What kind of mistake?””
She began crying.
“Someone contacted me about a month ago. They said they knew I was crying.
“Someone contacted me about a month ago. They said they knew I was planning the wedding and that I was under financial pressure. They offered me a job helping with a project.””
My chest tightened.
“Who contacted planning the wedding and that I was under financial pressure. They offered me a job helping with a project.””
My chest tightened.
“Who contacted you?””
“A man named Adrian Voss.””
I stood.
“Colonel Adrian Voss?””
She you?””
“A man named Adrian Voss.””
I stood.
“Colonel Adrian Voss?””
She nodded miserably.
“What did he want?””
“He said the company needed someone who could organize archived documents and coordinate appointments. He told me it was temporary, that nodded miserably.
“What did he want?””
“He said the company needed someone who could organize archived documents and coordinate appointments. He told me it was temporary, that I wouldn't be handling anything confidential.””
“Did you accept?””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“Madison, what exactly I wouldn't be handling anything confidential.””
“Did you accept?””
“Yes.””
I stared at her.
“Madison, what exactly did you do?””
She wiped her face.
“He gave me access to a shared folder. I was supposed to identify duplicate files, rename documents, and prepare them for review did you do?””
She wiped her face.
“He gave me access to a shared folder. I was supposed to identify duplicate files, rename documents, and prepare them for review. I didn't know what most of them were.””
“Did you see my name?””
She nodded.
“Several times.””
My hands went cold.
“Did. I didn't know what most of them were.””
“Did you see my name?””
She nodded.
“Several times.””
My hands went cold.
“Did you open the files?””
“Some of them. I saw your name on a report, and I asked him about it.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me it you open the files?””
“Some of them. I saw your name on a report, and I asked him about it.””
“What did he say?””
“He told me it was an old administrative dispute. He said you had already accepted responsibility and that the was an old administrative dispute. He said you had already accepted responsibility and that the file was being prepared for routine archival.””
I stared at her.
“Did you change anything?””
“No! I swear I didn't change anything file was being prepared for routine archival.””
I stared at her.
“Did you change anything?””
“No! I swear I didn't change anything.””
She reached for my arm.
“Olivia, I only renamed files and moved them into folders. I didn't alter a report. I didn't.””
She reached for my arm.
“Olivia, I only renamed files and moved them into folders. I didn't alter a report. I didn't even understand what I was looking at.””
“Did you download anything?””
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“One file.””
“What file?””
“An email even understand what I was looking at.””
“Did you download anything?””
She hesitated.
Then she nodded.
“One file.””
“What file?””
“An email chain. Voss said he needed me to send it to his personal account because the shared folder was being reorganized.””
chain. Voss said he needed me to send it to his personal account because the shared folder was being reorganized.””
I felt a chill crawl up my spine.
“Did you send it?””
She began to sob.
“Yes.””
“Do you stillI felt a chill crawl up my spine.
“Did you send it?””
She began to sob.
“Yes.””
“Do you still have the email?””
“I think so.””
“Madison, listen to me. Don't delete anything. Don't contact Voss. Don't open the have the email?””
“I think so.””
“Madison, listen to me. Don't delete anything. Don't contact Voss. Don't open the files again until the investigator tells you what to do.””
She nodded rapidly.
“Am I in trouble?””
“I don't know.””
“Will I go to prison?””
“I files again until the investigator tells you what to do.””
She nodded rapidly.
“Am I in trouble?””
“I don't know.””
“Will I go to prison?””
“I don't know, Madison.””
She covered her face.
I wanted to comfort her.
I wanted to tell her that everything would be fine.
But I couldn't promise something I don't know, Madison.””
She covered her face.
I wanted to comfort her.
I wanted to tell her that everything would be fine.
But I couldn't promise something I didn't know to be true.
“Why didn't you tell me when you saw my name?””
“Because I was ashamed. didn't know to be true.
“Why didn't you tell me when you saw my name?””
“Because I was ashamed. And because Voss said you would be furious if you knew I'd taken the job.””
I stared at her.
“Did he know I was your sister?””
And because Voss said you would be furious if you knew I'd taken the job.””
I stared at her.
“Did he know I was your sister?””
“He knew everything. He said he had reviewed our family information because the company needed to avoid conflicts of interest.””
My stomach twisted.
“He knew everything. He said he had reviewed our family information because the company needed to avoid conflicts of interest.””
My stomach twisted.
“He recruited you because you were my sister.””
“I didn't realize that“He recruited you because you were my sister.””
“I didn't realize that at first.””
I sat down slowly.
The man who had helped shape the investigation into my at first.””
I sat down slowly.
The man who had helped shape the investigation into my mission had hired my younger sister while she was under financial pressure.
He had given her access to files connected to me.
And he mission had hired my younger sister while she was under financial pressure.
He had given her access to files connected to me.
And he had instructed her to forward an email chain to his personal account.
I reached for my phone.
“I'm calling Rebecca.””
Madison grabbed my wrist.
“Please don't tell her.””
I looked at her.
“Madison.””
had instructed her to forward an email chain to his personal account.
I reached for my phone.
“I'm calling Rebecca.””
Madison grabbed my wrist.
“Please don't tell her.””
I looked at her.
“Madison.””
“I'll lose everything. My marriage, my job, everything. Ethan will never trust me again.””
I gently removed her“I'll lose everything. My marriage, my job, everything. Ethan will never trust me again.””
I gently removed her hand.
“You need to tell the truth before someone else tells it for you.””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“What hand.
“You need to tell the truth before someone else tells it for you.””
She shook her head.
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“What if they think I helped them frame you?””
I held her gaze.
“Then you show them exactly what happened. You give them the records if they think I helped them frame you?””
I held her gaze.
“Then you show them exactly what happened. You give them the records. You answer their questions. And you stop protecting the people who put you in this position.””
She stared at the letter.
. You answer their questions. And you stop protecting the people who put you in this position.””
She stared at the letter.
Then, slowly, she nodded.
I called Rebecca and explained what Madison had told me.
The investigator arrived twentyThen, slowly, she nodded.
I called Rebecca and explained what Madison had told me.
The investigator arrived twenty minutes later. She interviewed Madison, collected the letter, and instructed her to preserve every email and message connected to Voss.
When Rebecca minutes later. She interviewed Madison, collected the letter, and instructed her to preserve every email and message connected to Voss.
When Rebecca asked whether Madison had kept a copy of the email chain, my sister went pale.
“I think asked whether Madison had kept a copy of the email chain, my sister went pale.
“I think I did.””
“Where?””
“In my personal email account.””
“Can you access it?””
Madison opened I did.””
“Where?””
“In my personal email account.””
“Can you access it?””
Madison opened her laptop.
Her hands shook as she searched her inbox.
Then she stopped.
“It's gone her laptop.
Her hands shook as she searched her inbox.
Then she stopped.
“It's gone.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“What do you mean?””
“The email was there last week. Now it's missing.””
“Have you checked your deleted folder?””
Madison.””
Rebecca leaned forward.
“What do you mean?””
“The email was there last week. Now it's missing.””
“Have you checked your deleted folder?””
Madison clicked through several screens.
Nothing.
She stared at the laptop.
“I didn't delete it.””
Rebecca's expression hardened.
“Who else clicked through several screens.
Nothing.
She stared at the laptop.
“I didn't delete it.””
Rebecca's expression hardened.
“Who else has access to this account?””
“No one.””
Then a notification appeared on the screen.
A new email.
No sender name.
No subject line has access to this account?””
“No one.””
Then a notification appeared on the screen.
A new email.
No sender name.
No subject line.
Only an attachment.
Madison clicked on the message before Rebecca.
Only an attachment.
Madison clicked on the message before Rebecca could stop her.
The attachment opened.
It was a photograph of our childhood home.
Our mother stood on the front porch.
And beneath the image were eight words.
**Your could stop her.
The attachment opened.
It was a photograph of our childhood home.
Our mother stood on the front porch.
And beneath the image were eight words.
May you like
*Your sister should have stayed out of this.*
sister should have stayed out of this.**
