“Three years ago, Lance Carlston sexually harassed the mayor’s daughter. She filed a complaint, then withdrew it after receiving multiple calls from you.”
“I don’t recall.”
My jaw tightens. “Phone records.” I slide another page across. “Your number, calling Jennifer Walsh four times between the complaint being filed and withdrawn.”
Tracy stares at the phone records, her hands gripping her coffee cup. “I was helping resolve a misunderstanding.”
“By offering her five thousand dollars?”
“I don’t know where you’re getting your sources from—”
“From Jennifer Walsh. She’s willing to go on record about what you offered and what you threatened.”
The fake smile disappears. “You can’t prove anything. Alice really does have you wrapped around her finger.”
“I can prove everything.” I pull out more documents.She's trying to use Alice against me. It won't work.“Sarah Martinez. Rebecca Foster. Six women total who can testify about your calls, your bribes, your threats.”
“Those were business matters—”
“Business matters?” I lean forward, keeping my voice deadly calm. “Tracy, you’ve been covering up Lance’s crimes for years. Witness tampering, conspiracy, accessory after the fact. That’s serious prison time.”
Tracy’s hands start shaking. She sets down her coffee cup. “Lance is a good kid who made some mistakes. I was helping—”
“Help him avoid consequences for stalking and harassing women?”
“It wasn’t like that.”
“Then what was it like?” I spread more documents across the table. “Because these bank records show the Carlstons paying you five thousand dollars every time you made one of Lance’s victims disappear.”
Tracy stares at the financial records. “You bastard.”
I keep my voice level. “Jennifer Walsh recorded your calls. The other women kept emails. This isn’t going away.”
She’s quiet for a long moment, staring at the evidence. I can see her calculating—weighing her options, looking for an angle. When she speaks, her voice is different—smaller. “What do you want?”
“Withdraw your complaint against me. Today.”
“I can’t.”
I should stop. This isn't working. But I push forward anyway.
“Stop pressuring Alice to drop the charges.”
“The Carlston—”
“I don’t care whatthatfamily expects.” My voice is flat. “Stay away from Alice. No visits, no calls, no manipulation. You’re done manipulating her.”
“You can’t tell me to stay away. She’s my daughter.”
“You gave up that right when you chose Lance over her.”
Tracy’s face hardens. “You think you can threaten me and I’ll just comply?”
“I think you’re looking at prison time if you don’t.”
She stands up suddenly, grabbing her purse. “Lance is from a good family. Alice is a troubled woman with a history of dramatic behavior. And you’re a corrupt cop who arrested an innocent man.”
“That’s your story?”
