Chapter 11 - Thomas Finally Faces The Evidence
Thomas Vale was charged initially with financial crimes, evidence
tampering, and obstruction.
Caroline’s death required a separate investigation.
Prosecutors refused to overstate what toxicology proved.
The medication found in her system could have contributed to her fatal
arrhythmia.
Evidence showed Thomas obtained it.
Security records placed him near Caroline’s office that day.
But investigators still needed to establish how Caroline received it.
Then Andrew found an old voicemail backup.
Caroline’s voice.
“Thomas brought coffee. I’m meeting him now. If he gives me another
speech about protecting Richard, I’m leaving.”
The coffee cup had been retained among evidence from Caroline’s office
because her death was originally investigated as sudden and unexplained.
Modern testing found residue consistent with the same medication.
Thomas’s position collapsed.
He eventually admitted adding the medication to Caroline’s drink.
He claimed he intended only to make her ill enough to miss a meeting
with regulators.
He said he did not know her underlying heart condition made the dose
especially dangerous.
The court would determine his legal responsibility.
Richard did not need to invent certainty beyond the evidence.
Caroline had died because Thomas deliberately drugged her to stop her
from speaking.
That truth was terrible enough.
Andrew sat beside Richard after investigators informed them.
“I should have come home.”
Richard looked at him.
“Yes.”
Andrew flinched.
Then Richard added:
“And Dad should never have framed you. Thomas should never have hurt
Caroline. Victoria should never have involved Lily. More than one person
can be responsible for different things.”
Andrew nodded.
“I don’t expect forgiveness.”
“Good.”
Richard stood.
“Because I don’t know what forgiveness looks like yet.”
Andrew accepted that.
For the first time in their lives, the brothers spoke without Charles
controlling the story between them.
Their relationship was not repaired.
But it was no longer built on a lie.
Then Lily entered with Claire.
Her hair had been professionally trimmed into a short bob to even the
jagged sections.
She looked nervous when she saw Andrew.
Richard crouched beside her.
“This is Uncle Andrew.”
Lily studied him.
“The one everyone said stole money?”
Andrew almost smiled.
“Yes.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
Lily considered him.
“Did you do other bad things?”
Andrew looked at Richard, then back at her.
“I stayed away when I should have come back.”
Lily nodded.
“That sounds bad.”
“It was.”
She accepted the answer.
May you like
Children did not need perfect adults.
They needed adults willing to tell the truth.
