“It came from your son’s email,” Margaret said.
“You don’t know that.”
“The venue has the original metadata.”
Margaret looked at Daniel.
“Did you write this?”
His mouth trembled.
“Mom…”
“Did you write it?”
“I was angry.”
“Did you write it?”
“Yes.”
The word dropped into the room.
Tiffany covered her mouth.
Daniel’s shoulders folded inward.
“But I never meant for anything to happen to you.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“I wanted the money released.”
“You wanted me hurt?”
“No.”
“You wanted me hospitalized.”
“No.”
“You wanted to profit if I was.”
“I wanted a way out.”
Margaret’s eyes burned, but no tears fell.
“There is always a way out that does not require someone else to be harmed.”
Daniel looked at the floor.
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
“I thought if I called everything off, Tiffany would leave.”
Tiffany’s face crumpled.
