Chapter 8 - BROCK WAS THE FIRST ONE TO WALK AWAY
Brock asked to meet Claire alone.
Madison hated that.
He came anyway.
He sat in a coffee shop across from Claire and placed his phone on the table.
“I’m done protecting them.”
Claire did not speak.
Brock had been married to Madison eight years.
He loved her.
That was obvious.
But love had started becoming expensive.
Andrew used Brock’s company as a pass-through for vehicle purchases.
Some legitimate.
Some inflated.
Brock discovered Andrew had altered two invoices after payment.
The modified versions made it appear Brock’s company performed renovation work at the mansion.
It never had.
“Why?” Claire asked.
“To create fake improvement claims,” Brock said. “So he could show lenders his company had invested in the property.”
Claire stared.
“Did Madison know?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“I’m sure about this part.”
Again.
Evidence needed boundaries.
Brock handed over the original invoices and metadata.
Then he said something Claire did not expect.
“I was driving the SUV.”
She went still.
“At the gate?”
“Yes.”
“Judith ordered you to ram it?”
He looked ashamed.
“Yes.”
“Why did you do it?”
He rubbed both hands over his face.
“Because Andrew told us the gates were illegally blocking his access and that the police would treat it as a civil dispute.”
Claire almost laughed from disbelief.
“You hit an iron gate three times.”
“I know.”
“Your wife was in the car.”
“I know.”
“You could have killed someone.”
“I know.”
That was why Brock cooperated.
May you like
Not innocence.
Responsibility arriving late.
