Chapter 6 - The Mother's Betrayal
While Ryan collapsed under questioning in Interrogation Room Four, Diane Sterling was being interrogated down the hall in Room Two by Detective Alvarez. Diane initially put up a formidable wall of upper-class arrogance.
'I am a pillar of this community!' Diane snapped at Alvarez, crossing her arms tightly over her designer blazer. 'My husband was a senior partner at a major law firm before he passed away! I demand my attorney be present immediately! You cannot treat me like a common criminal!'
Alvarez didn't raise his voice. He simply opened a digital tablet and played an audio clip. It was Diane’s own voice, crystal clear, recorded by the kitchen backup: *"If she won’t sign, Mom, we’ll make it look like an accident."*
Diane froze. The haughty expression melted off her face, replaced by a mask of cold fury. 'My son said that in the heat of the moment. Young couples argue. It means nothing legally.'
'It means premeditation, Mrs. Sterling,' Alvarez said smoothly. 'Conspiracy to commit bodily harm carries a minimum sentence of ten years. But here’s the interesting part: our financial audit of your family accounts shows that your personal bank accounts received a fifty-thousand-dollar wire transfer from Victor Vance yesterday morning. Care to explain why a loan shark is wiring money to a retired schoolteacher?'
Diane’s jaw tightened. She looked away, staring stubbornly at the grey concrete wall.
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'Ryan was drowning in gambling debts,' Alvarez continued, leaning in close. 'He promised Victor Vance that once he forced his wife to sell her father’s house, he’d pay off the debt with the proceeds. When you realized Melissa wouldn't budge, you planned the accident together. So let me ask you, Diane... when the prosecutor offers a plea deal, are you going to take the fall, or are you going to let your precious son rot in maximum security?'
Diane’s eyes widened in horror. The maternal loyalty vanished in an instant, replaced by self-preservation. 'Ryan... Ryan was the one who pushed her,' she whispered, her voice trembling with betrayal. 'I told him not to go that far... it was all his idea...'
