Chapter 9 - Richard's Daughter
Lila turned so fast her backpack hit the conference table.
"What about me?"
Richard looked exhausted.
"BM-01."
"What is it?"
"I never saw the full file."
"But you know I'm in it."
"Your mother told me."
Lila's mouth went dry.
"When?"
"The diner meeting."
Jonathan stared.
"Play the rest of the tape."
Richard shook his head.
"That is all I brought."
Lila did not believe him.
She grabbed his coat pocket.
Richard caught her wrist.
Jonathan grabbed his hand.
"Let go."
Richard did.
A second cassette fell from his inner pocket.
Lila stared.
"You lying—"
"I was trying to decide if you should hear it."
"You lost that right twelve years ago."
They found another recorder.
The tape hissed.
Anna's voice.
"I don't want your money."
Richard:
"Then what?"
"Tell Jonathan what happened at the plant."
"If I tell Jonathan, your children lose everything."
Lila stopped breathing.
Anna:
"Don't threaten them."
"I'm warning you."
"You already put Lila in the program."
Jonathan looked at Lila.
Richard closed his eyes.
Anna continued.
"She was two years old."
Lila's hands went numb.
Richard:
"That was William."
Anna:
"You signed the continuation."
The tape clicked.
Lila looked at Richard.
"I was two."
He said nothing.
"Why was I in a Mercer medical program when I was two?"
"Your mother lived near the plant."
"Was I exposed?"
"Possibly."
Jonathan said, "Possibly is not an answer."
Richard looked at him.
"Children in nearby households were screened."
"Without consent?"
"Through pediatric partnerships."
Lila laughed.
"You mean doctors who didn't tell parents what you were testing."
Richard did not deny it.
Jonathan's phone rang.
South Side security.
The old plant gate had been opened with Dr. Vale's badge.
Jonathan headed for the door.
Lila stopped Richard.
"Why did Mom meet you?"
"To make me confess."
"Only that?"
He looked at her.
"To tell me I was her father."
"And what did you do?"
"I offered money."
"Of course."
"She asked for truth instead."
"And you gave her surveillance."
Richard's face tightened.
Lila nodded.
"Thought so."
They reached the elevator.
Claire joined them.
Jonathan looked at her.
"You stay."
"No."
"Claire."
"Vale knows I kept copies."
Jonathan went still.
"Copies of what?"
"Anna's confidentiality file."
Lila stared.
"You wrote it."
Claire's eyes filled.
"Yes."
"Did Richard force you?"
Claire shook her head.
"No."
Jonathan's voice hardened.
"Then why?"
Claire whispered:
May you like
"Your father did."
CUT.
