“Are you sure? Are you absolutely sure?”

I played the recording.

His face drained of color as he heard his mother promise to care for Tessa and her baby once Vanessa was gone.

He remained silent, struggling to comprehend her betrayal.

“I won’t force you to confront her,” I said. “That’s your call. But I’m done pretending she’s an innocent victim.”

For a long moment, the only sound came from a dog barking somewhere down the street.

Then Roy straightened, turned toward the house, and began walking.

I followed.

Margaret was sitting in the front room when we returned.

Surprise flickered across her face.

“Roy? Did you forget something?”

“Did you arrange for Tessa to confront Vanessa?”

“What a ridiculous question.”

Roy gestured toward me, and I played the recording again.

I watched Margaret recognize her own words.

Her mouth opened, then closed, as she calculated how much of her story she could still defend.