Chapter 18 - The Truth in the Basement
Sofia Alvarez was dehydrated, frightened, and exhausted, but she survived. At the hospital, with her advocate present, she gave investigators a statement about being confined by someone working for Keene.
When she was ready to speak to Adrian, he visited with Nora. He expected fury. She offered him a chair.
“Your father knew young people were being exploited,” she said. “He was told there were problems. He buried the reports because the contracts were profitable.”
Nora looked at the floor.
“But when Margaret discovered the truth, she started gathering evidence. She secretly helped Isabel relocate. She tried to return our land. Keene moved faster than she did.”
“Did my father hurt Mom?” Adrian asked.
“He'd already died. The people protecting the operation were afraid of what she had.”
Sofia described her last meeting with Margaret. The older woman had been weak, sitting by a window, but her mind was clear.
“She said she wished she had asked harder questions years ago. She said being ashamed wasn't the same as making things right.”
Adrian looked away. That sounded exactly like his mother: unwilling to call a confession the end of the work.
“Did Keene arrange her death?” Nora asked.
“I can't know,” Sofia said. “I only know she planned to meet an investigator and never made it.”
Harris explained that the inquiry into Margaret's care remained open. The financial evidence, missing-person testimony, and witness intimidation were already enough to move forward on other charges.
On the drive home, Adrian asked Nora whether she could forgive their father.
“I don't know,” she said. “But I can stop defending him.”
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When they reached the mansion, three television vans waited by the gate. At the center stood Martin Keene, holding a document folder and smiling for the cameras.
He had filed a claim that Blackthorn Hall no longer belonged to Adrian.
