Daniel asked for immunity.

He did not get it.

What he got was a lawyer and a room full of evidence.

Adrian sat across from him again two days later.

This time Mara joined him.

Daniel looked at the bandages on her wrists.

“I’m sorry.”

Mara did not answer.

Adrian placed a photograph on the table.

Vanessa and Frank at a charity dinner four years earlier.

Daniel was visible in the background.

Talking to both of them.

“You told me Vanessa introduced you to Frank.”

Daniel looked down.

“She told you?”

“She told me to ask.”

Daniel closed his eyes.

“I introduced them.”

Adrian felt tired beyond anger.

“When?”

“Four years ago.”

“Before I met Vanessa?”

“Three months before.”

Mara leaned forward.

“You introduced Vanessa to Adrian on purpose?”

Daniel’s face crumpled.

“Yes.”

The room went silent.

Adrian stared at his brother.

“What were you supposed to get?”

“Debt erased.”

“How much?”

“Two hundred thousand.”

Adrian laughed softly.

A terrible sound.

“You sold me for two hundred thousand dollars.”

“No.”

“What would you call it?”

“I didn’t know what Frank was planning.”

“But you knew Vanessa was supposed to get close to me.”

“Yes.”

“Marry me?”

“I didn’t know that part.”

Adrian stood and walked away from the table.

Daniel began talking faster.

“Frank said Vanessa just needed access to events and family conversations. He wanted information about foundation votes, donors, contracts.”

Mara asked, “When did you realize it was bigger?”

“After Mom started asking questions.”

“And you said nothing.”

Daniel looked at her.

“I was scared.”

Mara’s voice was quiet.

“So was Luis.”

Daniel flinched.

“So was I.”

He looked away.

Adrian returned to the table.

“Did Mom know you introduced Vanessa?”

“No.”

“Did she know you were part of the fraud?”

“Yes.”

“When?”

“The night she died.”

Adrian swallowed.

“Is that why she said your name?”

Daniel nodded.

“She looked at me and said, ‘Danny, tell him.’”

Adrian’s eyes burned.

“Tell me what?”

“The truth.”

He sat down.

For the first time in years, the brothers looked at each other without pride between them.

Only damage.

Daniel whispered, “I wanted to call you.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No.”

“Why?”

“Because I thought if she lived, I could fix it before you knew.”

Mara shook her head.

“That’s what everybody keeps saying. ‘I was going to fix it.’ ‘I was going to tell him.’ ‘I was trying to protect him.’”

She looked at Adrian.

“The truth does not protect anyone when it arrives after the damage.”

Adrian held her gaze.

Then his phone rang.

Federal prosecutor Helen Ward.

“We have a problem,” she said.

“What now?”

“Frank Delaney survived surgery.”

Adrian exhaled.

“That’s not a problem.”

“It is if he talks.”

“Why?”

“Because he says he can prove Eleanor Cole wasn’t his first victim.”