Chapter 7: The Recording
I didn’t sleep.
Again.
The recording haunted me.
A final conversation between my husband and my son.
A conversation I never knew existed.
By morning, Claire had already started looking into the missing deed and account activity.
But she knew something had changed.
“You found something out,” she said.
I nodded.
“Harrison knew something about Daniel’s death.””
Claire became still.
“What exactly?””
I told her everything.
She listened carefully.
When I finished, she said:
“We need that recording.””
“I know.””
“Do you know where it is?””
I shook my head.
“Harrison said Sloan found it.””
Claire picked up her phone.
“Then we find Sloan.””
Finding Sloan wasn’t difficult.
She wanted to be found.
She showed up at my house that afternoon.
Wearing sunglasses.
Carrying another expensive handbag.
She walked into my driveway like she still owned the place.
“You’ve been talking to Harrison.””
I crossed my arms.
“You’ve been stealing from me.””
Her smile faded slightly.
“So he told you.””
I felt my stomach drop.
“You admit it?””
She laughed.
“Margaret, please. Don’t act innocent.””
“Innocent?””
“Yes.””
She stepped closer.
“You know exactly how much Harrison sacrificed for you.””
I stared.
“Sacrificed?””
“He spent his whole life feeling second place.””
“To whom?””
She shrugged.
“Your husband.””
I felt anger rise.
“You’re blaming Daniel?””
“I’m saying Harrison deserved more.””
“And stealing from me was his solution?””
Sloan looked away.
For the first time, she looked nervous.
“The money was supposed to be temporary.””
“Temporary?””
“Yes.””
“How do you spend eighteen thousand dollars temporarily?””
She didn’t answer.
Instead, she reached into her purse.
Not Gucci.
A different designer bag.
She pulled out a small recorder.
My breath stopped.
“You want the truth?””
I stared at the device.
“Is that it?””
“The recording.””
I stepped forward.
“Give it to me.””
She smiled.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I need something first.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Of course you do.””
She ignored that.
“You’re going to sign the house over.””
Claire, standing behind me, immediately stepped forward.
“No.””
Sloan smiled.
“Then she never hears the recording.””
“You think blackmail is going to work?””
“It already has.””
She looked at me.
“You’re still trying to save Harrison.””
I said nothing.
Because she was right.
Even after everything.
A part of me still wanted to believe my son wasn’t completely lost.
Sloan noticed.
“That’s your weakness.””
My eyes narrowed.
“What?””
“You love him too much.””
She turned toward her car.
“Think about it.””
“Wait.””
She stopped.
I looked at the recorder.
“What does the recording say?””
Her smile returned.
“Ask him.””
She drove away.
That evening, Harrison called.
I answered.
“Mom.””
“Where is the recording?””
Silence.
Then:
“She showed you.””
“Yes.””
A long pause.
“I was hoping you’d never hear it.””
My heart sank.
“Why?””
His voice broke.
“Because you’d never look at me the same.””
“You’re right.””
He exhaled.
“Mom…”
“What did Dad say?””
Another silence.
Then Harrison whispered:
“He knew.””
“Knew what?””
“He knew I was going to take the money.””
My blood ran cold.
“What?””
“He knew I was angry. He knew I felt entitled.””
I gripped the phone.
“What did he do?””
“He tried to stop me.””
“And?””
Harrison’s voice cracked.
“And I let him fall.””
The world stopped.
I couldn’t speak.
The man on the phone wasn’t my little boy anymore.
He was someone I didn’t know.
“Harrison…”
“I didn’t push him.””
His voice became desperate.
“I swear. I didn’t push him.””
I closed my eyes.
“But you let him fall.””
Silence.
Then he said:
“Yes.””
I ended the call.
And for the first time in my life…
May you like
I didn’t cry for my son.
I cried for the woman who had spent forty years believing she knew him.
