Chapter 15 - Ximena's Confession
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On Friday morning, the state attorney’s office released the transcript of Ximena’s preliminary interrogation.
The document was brutal.
Under oath, Ximena admitted that Brendan had explicitly instructed her to delay all non-essential medical disbursements for secondary dependents whenever the company’s monthly cash flow fell below target thresholds.
She produced text messages from Brendan sent during Chloe’s final week:
Brendan: "Tell Nora the system is down. I don't want five thousand dollars coming out of the foundation account while we're closing the riverfront deal."
Ximena: "The doctor says it's urgent, Mr. Fairchild."
Brendan: "Nora always exaggerates. Hold the request until next month."
The release of the text messages turned public opinion into a raging inferno.
The story was picked up by major national news outlets. The name Brendan Fairchild became synonymous with corporate cruelty and lethal negligence. Protesters gathered outside the locked gates of the Lake Forest estate carrying signs bearing Chloe's name.
In her new office on the top floor of the Vance Building downtown, Nora read the transcript line by line.
She didn't cry. The tears had run dry days ago.
Raymond walked into her office, setting a hot cup of tea on her mahogany desk.
"The grand jury has convened," Raymond said gently. "Criminal charges for reckless endangerment and corporate fraud will be filed against Brendan by Monday."
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Nora looked out the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking down at the tiny cars crawling through the city below.
"He thought money gave him the right to decide who lived and who suffered," Nora said quietly. "He's about to learn what it feels like to have no choices left."
