‘What if there was a way out?’
‘Like what?’ She said slowly.
‘Well, I’m nottotallyheartless.’ I took out a second item from the briefcase and placed it in front of her.
‘A mince pie?’ she said, voice quivering.
‘A way out. The evidence is all tied up neatly. I just wanted to see if you could admit to what you had done, to yourself and to me. But I didn’t hold out any hope in that regard. There’s a cyanide pill in there. Take it… and you won’t have to suffer going to prison. You won’t live to see the shame brought upon the Weiss name when I give this evidence regarding Omar Akhtar to the police. You won’t have to serve a sentence for murders you didn’t commit. But you will pay like the others did, for covering up what Quentin did and for aiding his release. And for what you did to my wife.’
She looked from me to the mince pie and back again. ‘You horrible boy. You horrid, wicked, bloody heartless boy!’ she shouted, and then she screamed. It was a good scream– one I wish I could record and listen to all over again. ‘How could you do this to me?’ The contempt and disbelief in her tone only strengthened my resolve.
‘I’m giving you a choice. You see, I am nothing like Quentin, Eugene, Tristan or any of the others,’ I leaned forward, getting close to her face. ‘You see now. I’m much, much worse. I am the son you raised me to be– in every way but one. I will do rightbymyfamily.’
She was silent, staring at me with pure loathing as her face grew redder and redder. Finally, she opened her mouth, ‘Let me speak to Artie.’
‘No can do, I’m afraid.’
I stood up from my chair. ‘This is it, then.’ I looked down at her, feeling no sense of satisfaction now that the tears were falling freely down her cheeks. ‘Goodbye, Mother.’
I snapped Father’s briefcase shut and left her with the documents and the mince pie on the table in front of her.
I turned and walked away, the click of the lock behind me confirming that she was trapped there, with no one left to turn to. I shoved the guards another wad of notes for letting me see her without surveillance. I could do that now… When you’re a multimillionaire and the owner of a goldmine, you can do whatever the hell you please.
I walked down the corridor, the sounds of her wailing retreating behind me, and the guards I passed didn’t even look me in the eye as I walked out into the early January air and through the gates. A sharp breeze caught me as I stepped down from the steps and walked across to our car.
Gloria sat in the back seat, her nose pressed up against the window. Her whole body started wagging when she saw me.
‘Who’s a good girl?’ I said as I climbed inside. She barked in response. I took a deep breath and checked my watch. I picked up my phone and dialled Olivia to see how she was feeling. ‘How did it go?’ Her voice came from the other end.
‘Better than expected,’ I replied, scratching Gloria behind her ear as she wagged her tail furiously.
‘Great,’ she replied. I could tell she was grinning from ear to ear, even though I couldn’t see her face. ‘Martha and Callum are here and the nurse said they’re discharging me within the hour.’
‘Perfect.’ I grinned. ‘Now… are you ready to catch that flight?’
