The Heir Faked His Injuries to Catch the Assistant Who Stole His Sister's Inheritance — Part 2 of 3

The Confession Under Interrogation

Hours later, the sunroom had been sealed with yellow tape, but the Bradford estate's private study was alive with tension. Marcus sat behind his father's mahogany desk, Mia curled on his lap, her thumb in her mouth—a habit she had abandoned years ago, but today, no one minded.

Detective Sarah Chen, a sharp-eyed woman in a navy blazer, slid a file across the desk. "We pulled her phone records, Mr. Bradford. Monica made three calls to a burner number in the week before the crash."

Marcus opened the file, scanning the pages. His jaw tightened as he read the transcripts. "She didn't just want the emeralds. She wanted the whole company."

Detective Chen nodded. "And she had an accomplice. Someone with access to the plane's maintenance logs. We've identified him—a mechanic named Victor Reyes. He's in custody, but he's not talking."

Mia looked up at her brother, her big eyes searching his. "Marcus, why did she hurt us?"

He kissed her forehead, his voice soft. "Because some people love money more than family, sweetheart. But they always lose in the end."

In the interrogation room, Monica sat in an orange jumpsuit, her red suit long gone, replaced by the cold reality of her situation. She stared at the two-way mirror with a defiance that had not yet cracked.

Marcus entered, carrying a tablet. He placed it on the table between them. "You thought you could take everything from us," he said, his tone even. "But you forgot one thing."

He tapped the screen. A video began to play—the feed from his chest camera, showing Monica's face as she mocked him, threatened Mia, and reached for the safe. But it was the audio that made her flinch: "The old man won't last a week. Once he's gone, I'll control the trust fund. The girl will be sent to boarding school, and I'll be rich enough to disappear."

Monica's composure cracked. "That's not—you can't use that—"

"It's already with the district attorney," Marcus said. "But I'm not here to gloat. I'm here to offer you a deal."

She leaned forward, hope flickering in her eyes. "What kind of deal?"

"Tell me who hired you to sabotage the plane," Marcus said. "The crash wasn't an accident. My father died in that crash, Monica. And I know you didn't act alone."

Monica's lips curved into a bitter smile. "You think you're so smart, Marcus. But you have no idea what's coming for you."

She leaned back, folding her arms. "I'll talk. But only if you drop the charges against me."

Marcus shook his head. "Not a chance. You'll spend the rest of your life in prison. But I'll make sure you're in protective custody, away from the people you were working for."

Monica's smile faltered. "They'll kill me anyway."

"They'll try," Marcus said. "But I can make sure they don't succeed."

She stared at him, weighing her options. Finally, she nodded. "The person who hired me... you know him. He's been watching you for years. Waiting for the right moment to strike."

Marcus felt a chill run down his spine. "Who?"

Monica whispered a name that made his blood run cold.

Marcus left the interrogation room, his mind racing. Detective Chen met him in the hallway. "Well?"

"We have a bigger problem than I thought," Marcus said. "Monica's not the mastermind. She was just a pawn."

He looked toward the study where Mia was waiting. "And the real enemy is still out there."