Total pages in book: 100
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91212 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
The media likes to remind people of it when they have a slow media day, and opponents in any campaign the Preston name has been connected to are quick to bring it up too, as if the choices of one person in the family determine the value of everyone else.
"The last time we saw her was three weeks ago yesterday," I continue.
"And what happened during that meeting?" Mr. Anderson prods.
"I told her the family had had enough. We were no longer going to support her drug habit. I told her she needed to grow up and take the feelings of those who love her into consideration when she was making her bad choices." I clear my throat, but it doesn't stop the tears from welling in my eyes.
I've relived this conversation over and over, and there are days I wish we had never had it. Those days, I wish I had just let her keep the pieces of our mother's jewelry that she was trying to steal. Other days, I'm able to straighten a little and know I made the right choice.
"She was there stealing jewelry because I had told her the day before on the phone that I wasn't going to give her any more money until she went to rehab."
"According to our records, Sadie had been to rehab three times in the past," Mr. Yarrow says without having to look at the folder in front of him. It's clear the man prepared for this meeting, and that makes me feel a little better about this situation.
I dip my head. "She was in rehab when our father passed away. She checked herself out when she was given the news, and has never gone back as far as I know."
"And the credit card she has?"
I feel the burn of William's eyes on the side of my face.
"You wouldn't give her cash but you handed her a credit card?" William growls. "What a way to stand your ground, Cora."
"She stole the credit card," I confess. "When I noticed the extra charges, I knew it was her and didn't report the card stolen."
"Jesus," William snaps.
"It was a way for you to track her," Mr. Yarrow says. "So you knew she was okay?"
I nod, finding that I sort of like this guy.
He looks at my brother. "If she filed the card as stolen, the credit company would've gone after Sadie in a legal battle."
"She could've canceled it," William argues, his tone dismissive and annoyed.
"There's been no activity on it since the day after I told her to leave the house and to never come back unless it was to get help with her drug addiction," I explain. "That's when I got nervous."
"The last cell phone ping we had was close to DC. Records indicate that she might've visited a home at 1502 W Pace. Are either of you familiar with the place?"
I shake my head, looking over at William who takes a second longer to respond. I can tell that he's purposely acting obstinate.
Eventually, he shakes his head.
"It's suspected of being a brothel," Mr. Yarrow continues.
"What?" I ask, a sob on my lips. "You think Sadie is having to sell her body for money?"
My hands are trembling at the thought of her being put in such a horrible situation because I had a bad day and told her to leave and not come back.
"Really?" William asks, his attention on me. "Wouldn't getting paid be a lot better than her just giving it away for free like she's been doing for years?"
I glare at him and the callous way he's speaking about Sadie.
"William," both Senator Dyer and I snap at the same time.
There are conversations you can have in private that can't be had in mixed company, but, honestly, if they know about the video which happened to be a recording of her having an orgy with a handful of college guys, then they know just how free with herself she's been.
"I think you have a case here. I won't disclose a lot of information because we have more than one case happening in the area, but I can tell you that a link to that house is dangerous," Mr. Anderson says as he leans forward in his chair, placing his elbows on the table. "Now you have to decide if you want us to work for you or not."
They've already found more information than I've been able to find on my own, so I'm all for having them help, but there are also certain provisions we have to make sure are in place. Knowing Sadie, there's no way to determine what sort of situation she might be found in.
"We need utmost discretion," I begin.
"You've got to be joking," William snaps. "What is this going to cost us?"
"The total fee depends on how extensive the case ends up being, but our fee to even get started is a hundred," Mr. Anderson says.