Chapter 11 - Gavin’s Account
Gavin’s video was thirty-two minutes long.
Ruiz would not let Daniel watch the entire recording immediately.
Parts contained information investigators needed to verify before witnesses could be exposed to it.
Daniel hated that.
But he understood.
He saw only the opening section.
Gavin said he had helped Marissa hide money after the Foundation for Tomorrow collapse.
He described himself as young, ambitious, and stupid.
Daniel found the excuse inadequate.
Gavin admitted creating shell companies.
He admitted blackmailing Clara after she repaid some of the stolen money.
Because Clara had concealed Marissa’s theft, Gavin convinced her exposure would destroy her reputation too.
Years passed.
Then Gavin and Marissa developed Northstar.
They intended to profit by moving managed trust assets into high-fee, self-dealing investments.
It was not originally about Daniel.
Then Marissa saw his name in a business profile.
She knew Clara had married him.
“She became obsessed with the idea that Clara had taken the life she deserved,” Gavin said on the video.
Daniel’s stomach turned.
Marissa began gathering information.
Paula provided access.
Clara discovered irregularities.
She followed the money back to Northstar.
Then to Marissa.
At Lake Arden, Clara demanded they sign repayment agreements and stay away from Daniel.
She had also brought the original foundation ledger.
The document proved Marissa initiated the thefts.
Gavin claimed the meeting became an argument.
Clara threatened to go directly to prosecutors.
Marissa threatened to expose Clara’s earlier cover-up.
Clara replied that she no longer cared.
That was when, according to Gavin, Marissa realized she had lost control.
But Gavin’s account of the crash was less complete.
He said he left Lake Arden at 10:20 p.m.
Marissa remained.
He denied touching Clara’s vehicle.
He denied knowing anyone had.
He said Marissa called him shortly before midnight and told him Clara was dead.
Daniel stared at Ruiz.
“That’s it?”
“That’s what you can hear right now.”
“He doesn’t say what happened.”
“He says what he claims happened.”
“You don’t believe him.”
“I believe he is trying to minimize his own liability.”
“Where is he?”
“We’re working on it.”
Gavin’s memory card had been delivered by a courier paid in cash.
The courier had collected the envelope from a locker at Albany station.
No useful description.
Marissa’s legal position worsened.
Prosecutors charged her with attempted grand larceny and conspiracy related to Northstar.
Her assault case involving Lily remained separate.
The judge increased restrictions but did not order her detained on the homicide suspicion alone.
Daniel was furious.
Sarah explained.
“Suspicion is not proof.”
“She was with Clara.”
“Yes.”
“She lied about it.”
“Yes.”
“She planned to take my children’s money.”
“Evidence strongly suggests that.”
“Gavin says—”
“Gavin is missing and protecting himself.”
Daniel turned away.
“I hate this.”
“I know.”
“Why can’t anyone just say what is obvious?”
“Because the law is supposed to survive cases where what feels obvious is wrong.”
That silenced him.
Meanwhile, Lily began seeing a therapist.
Owen did too.
Owen’s fear emerged in small ways.
He stopped leaving his backpack downstairs.
He asked permission before opening the refrigerator.
One evening Daniel found him standing in the pantry doorway.
“What are you doing?”
Owen whispered, “Can I have crackers?”
“Of course.”
“Even if dinner is soon?”
“Yes.”
Owen hesitated.
“Marissa said eating without asking was stealing.”
Daniel crouched.
“Food in this house is not something you have to earn.”
“What if I’m bad?”
“You’re still allowed to eat.”
Owen looked uncertain.
Daniel’s chest hurt.
“How about this? If there’s something you shouldn’t eat because it’s for dinner or because of allergies, I’ll tell you. But you never have to be scared to ask.”
Owen nodded.
Then said, “Are you still marrying her?”
“No.”
“Ever?”
“No.”
Owen leaned against him.
It was the first time since the incident.
Daniel held him carefully.
Later that week, Ruiz called.
They had found Gavin.
He had checked into a motel outside Providence under his middle name.
When police entered the room, he did not run.
He asked for an attorney.
He also handed them an old portable hard drive.
According to Gavin, it contained backups Marissa believed destroyed.
One folder included photographs from Lake Arden.
Another contained accounting records.
A third was labeled:
M — 11/2.
Inside were two audio files.
In the first, Clara and Marissa argued.
In the second, recorded twenty-eight minutes later, only Marissa’s voice could be heard.
She was speaking on the phone.
Daniel was not initially allowed to hear it.
But Ruiz told him one sentence.
Marissa had said:
May you like
“By the time anyone checks the car, there won’t be enough left to prove anything.”
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