{"id":30513,"date":"2026-10-05T13:02:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30513"},"modified":"2026-10-05T13:02:07","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:02:07","slug":"part-18-connor-survived-the-crash-but-his-impossible-accusation-proved-someone-had-been-using-raymond-vales-identity-to-move-unseen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30513","title":{"rendered":"PART 18 \u2013 Connor Survived the Crash, but His Impossible Accusation Proved Someone Had Been Using Raymond Vale\u2019s Identity to Move Unseen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Connor had three fractured ribs, twelve stitches above his left eyebrow and a badly sprained wrist.<\/p>\n<p>He also had a police officer outside his hospital room.<\/p>\n<p>By the time we arrived, detectives had already confirmed one fact.<\/p>\n<p>Raymond Vale had been in custody when Connor was attacked.<\/p>\n<p>So whoever Connor saw was not Vale.<\/p>\n<p>That did not mean Connor lied.<\/p>\n<p>It meant the story had acquired another mask.<\/p>\n<p>I stood outside his room with Kenneth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to see him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen why are you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause he asked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat has never been a good enough reason before.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked through the narrow window in the door.<\/p>\n<p>Connor lay propped against white pillows.<\/p>\n<p>He looked smaller.<\/p>\n<p>Without the expensive coat, controlled smile and practiced posture, he looked less like the man who had dominated so many rooms and more like someone who had finally run out of places to perform.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI need to hear him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019ll be outside.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I entered.<\/p>\n<p>Connor turned his head.<\/p>\n<p>The movement hurt.<\/p>\n<p>He winced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cConnor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His eyes moved over my face.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou read it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I took the chair near the bed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was driving north.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom the airport?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere were you going?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn&#39;t an answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He closed his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI just wanted distance.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen someone followed you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat vehicle?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBlack SUV.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMake?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLicense?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you see the driver?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut you told police it was Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought it was.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I saw his face.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stared at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou said you didn&#39;t see clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the gas station.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat gas station?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI stopped near the interstate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Vale was there?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA man who looked exactly like him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid he speak to you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe stood by the pumps watching me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould it have been Vale?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAt the time I thought yes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut Vale was already in custody.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor\u2019s mouth tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo who?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened after you left?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe SUV followed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow long?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFive miles maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeone fired.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow many shots?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHit the car?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne hit the rear quarter panel.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd you crashed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI lost control.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked toward the window.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought I was going to die.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The statement did not invite sympathy.<\/p>\n<p>It simply existed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did you do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClimbed out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWith fractured ribs?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAdrenaline.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd flagged police.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I sat back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid the SUV stop?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen why did you say Vale?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I saw him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOr someone wanted you to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s what Morales said.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes Vale have a brother?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot that I know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwin?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeone using his appearance?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMask?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He laughed weakly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sound insane.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA little.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou asked for truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That made him smile once.<\/p>\n<p>Then pain erased it.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you know about Red Marsh?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot before Vale mentioned it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Red Marsh belong to Ethan?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI checked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMonths ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did you find?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMeaning?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLayers of companies.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJurisdictions?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDelaware. Nevada. British Virgin Islands.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou did all that while pretending everything was normal.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have never been as normal as I pretended.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was probably true.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Red Marsh belong to Evelyn?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow do you know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI checked her too.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWalter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSame.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGabriel?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor almost laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMelinda?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen who hates your family?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He looked at the ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat list is not short.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSomeone with money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cStill not short.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd access to family records.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His expression changed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou have a guess.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy cousin Rebecca.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I searched my memory.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMichael\u2019s older daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Walter\u2019s late brother Michael had two daughters.<\/p>\n<p>Rebecca and Claire.<\/p>\n<p>I had met them only a handful of times.<\/p>\n<p>Both lived outside Indiana.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy Rebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe hated Walter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause of what happened to Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened to Michael?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cApparently not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe died broke.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That surprised me.<\/p>\n<p>Walter\u2019s brother had been part of the Fleming family business for decades.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDad pushed him out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAfter some investment dispute.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWalter never mentioned it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOf course not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat exactly happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMichael challenged him over voting control. Dad won.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMichael borrowed against everything trying to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe lost.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow does that lead to Rebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe blamed Dad for destroying him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid she know you might be Michael\u2019s son?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor\u2019s eyes shifted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think so.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVale said someone from Michael\u2019s branch requested family genetic records years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>My pulse quickened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBefore I hired him to investigate my birth.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo someone else was already looking.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat would give her motive to expose your paternity.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut why follow Melinda?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor stared at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo break the trust.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I understood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf your claim to succession failed through your own paternity and Noah\u2019s\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen Dad\u2019s structure becomes vulnerable from both directions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd Michael\u2019s biological descendants could challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca and Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis isn\u2019t just revenge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s corporate control.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow you understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I almost laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not say that like this makes you less guilty.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRed Marsh may have manipulated events around you. That doesn&#39;t make you innocent of the things you admitted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou keep saying that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause I do.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>For once, I believed him.<\/p>\n<p>A knock sounded.<\/p>\n<p>Morales entered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSorry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor\u2019s shoulders tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need to ask about the shooter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI already told you.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have video.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom where?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGas station.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morales held a tablet.<\/p>\n<p>The footage showed Connor fueling his car.<\/p>\n<p>Across the lot stood a tall man in a dark jacket.<\/p>\n<p>Even from the grainy camera, the resemblance to Vale was remarkable.<\/p>\n<p>Same height.<\/p>\n<p>Same gray hair.<\/p>\n<p>Same posture.<\/p>\n<p>Then the man turned slightly.<\/p>\n<p>Morales froze the image.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cLook at his left hand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor leaned closer.<\/p>\n<p>I did too.<\/p>\n<p>The man wore a large silver ring.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVale doesn&#39;t wear that,\u201d Connor said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe hates jewelry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morales swiped.<\/p>\n<p>Another frame.<\/p>\n<p>The man entered the black SUV.<\/p>\n<p>His face became clearer.<\/p>\n<p>Not Vale.<\/p>\n<p>Similar.<\/p>\n<p>But younger.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps by ten years.<\/p>\n<p>Connor stared.<\/p>\n<p>Then whispered, \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morales leaned forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cName.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor swallowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThomas Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRelation to Raymond?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHis son.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That explained the resemblance.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere is Thomas now?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI thought California.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen did you last see him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFive years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWorked with Raymond.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs investigator?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy didn&#39;t you mention him?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBecause he disappeared from the business.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRaymond said they had a falling-out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Morales\u2019s expression hardened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOver?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMoney.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Of course.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Thomas be working for Red Marsh?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Thomas know your family?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe knew everything Raymond knew.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was dangerous.<\/p>\n<p>Morales stepped outside to make calls.<\/p>\n<p>Connor sank back.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s another thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I almost laughed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere is always another thing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThomas dated Claire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I stopped.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMichael\u2019s younger daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYears ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow serious?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVery.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Raymond approve?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe thought the Flemings were poison.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat apparently didn&#39;t stop him taking their money.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor smiled faintly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRaymond contains contradictions.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo Thomas had a direct connection to Michael\u2019s family branch.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd access through his father.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCould Claire own Red Marsh?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked uncertain.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWould she have money?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHer own? Some.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnough for private investigators and corporate acquisitions?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTogether?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPossible.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked through the door window.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth stood outside speaking to Morales.<\/p>\n<p>The outline sharpened.<\/p>\n<p>Red Marsh.<\/p>\n<p>Michael\u2019s daughters.<\/p>\n<p>The original trust.<\/p>\n<p>Vale\u2019s divided loyalty.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas following Melinda.<\/p>\n<p>A campaign that predated Gabriel\u2019s filing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat did they want from Noah?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor whispered, \u201cProof.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cProof of what?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat I was lying.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo Dad\u2019s trust structure could be attacked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat still doesn&#39;t explain Gabriel\u2019s assault.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOr the threat sent to me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOr the photograph of Vale bound.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked toward the ceiling.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThomas.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou think Thomas sent it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe could have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy frame you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTo force police attention onto me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhich worked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid Raymond know Thomas was active?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don&#39;t know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThen ask him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor laughed painfully.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe hates me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat isn&#39;t the same as refusing to answer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at me.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou really think everyone can be reasoned with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI used to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The difference mattered.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth entered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMorales is checking Thomas Vale.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor nodded.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have another question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGo ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy was Raymond at the hangar with you?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor closed his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe offered an exit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou said that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPassport route. Charter.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho paid?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRaymond said a client.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRed Marsh?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHe wouldn&#39;t confirm.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo the same person potentially trying to destroy you offered to help you flee.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth\u2019s expression sharpened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot help.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRemove.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The room went quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf you left the country during active investigations, you become the perfect villain.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I felt cold.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEverything freezes around Connor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGabriel\u2019s assault looks like his.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cVale\u2019s disappearance looks like his.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe trust fraud looks like his alone.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRed Marsh stays hidden.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor\u2019s face drained.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was being packaged.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs the complete explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That was the first phrase all day that sounded exactly right.<\/p>\n<p>Connor had committed enough genuine wrongdoing that planting additional wrongdoing around him required very little effort.<\/p>\n<p>He had built the perfect frame.<\/p>\n<p>Around himself.<\/p>\n<p>My phone rang.<\/p>\n<p>Walter.<\/p>\n<p>I answered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cKirsten.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>His voice was tight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRebecca is here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I looked at Kenneth.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy office.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAlone?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWho\u2019s with her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A pause.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Connor had heard enough to understand.<\/p>\n<p>He tried to sit higher and winced.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do they want?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>I asked Walter the same thing.<\/p>\n<p>His answer came slowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThey say they own Red Marsh Consulting.\u201d<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/?p=30519\">Click here to continue reading: PART 19: Michael\u2019s Daughters Admitted They Built Red Marsh to Challenge Walter, but Denied Ordering the Violence That Had Protected Their Plan<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Connor had three fractured ribs, twelve stitches above his left eyebrow and a badly sprained wrist. He also had a police officer outside his hospital room. By the time we &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":30484,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insightdrama"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=30513"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30608,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30513\/revisions\/30608"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/30484"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=30513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=30513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/insightdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=30513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}