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“Folks, I think I’m finished here.” Lynch picked up his pen and tucked it inside his jacket. “This will be a long haul, and it’s only the beginning. This will be a difficult experience for you, having John face the loss of his liberty. If you think civil litigation keeps you up at night, criminal charges turn you into a basket case. But perhaps you know that.” Lynch’s gaze flickered to me. “Sorry, TJ.”
“It’s okay.” I nodded, my face going hot.
“In any event, I advise you to go home and get some rest. I know you’re worried about John, but he’s in capable hands.” Lynch picked up his pad and slid it into a leather envelope. “Any other questions, please feel free to call.”
“Thanks.” My father began to rise, but Lynch waved him back into the chair.
“I’ll see myself out, Paul. Marie, Gabby, Martin, TJ, it was good meeting you. Stay strong.”
“We will,” my father said, and everybody said their goodbyes. Lynch left, closing the door behind him.
I glanced at my mother, worried she would start to cry. “Mom, somebody once said, ‘When you’re going through hell, keep going.’ Maybe we should put that on our family crest?”
My father forced a smile.
My mother cocked her head, sad but thoughtful. “We always talk about that quote, but Churchill doesn’t say how to get through hell. Dante does, inInferno. He devotes a lot of the poem to the fraudsters he finds in hell. In his view, the sinners who are the worst.” She sighed, thinking aloud. “Ugolino the politician manipulates everyone and spends eternity in hell, watching his children die of starvation, even cannibalizing them. That’s what Dante thinks fraudsters deserve. He loathed men who manipulate, steal, and lie—all the things my own son did.”
I had no idea what to say, but my mother had the floor anyway.
“Dante says that the way to get through hell is with love and with compassion. That’s how we’ll get through this, with love and compassion for John.” My mother’s dark gaze shifted to us. “Dante doesn’t feel scorn for sinners. He sees how they suffer and knows they’re human beings who make mistakes. John is a sinner, and this isn’t whatany of us wanted for him, but we’ll get through this together, as a family.”
“You’re absolutely right.” My father looked at her with shining eyes, and I could see the love he had for her, which touched me.
“We will,” I said, feeling new gratitude for them. “I know you all pulled for me, and I’ll pull for John.”
Gabby cleared her throat. “Mom and Dad, there’s something I have to say.”
Chapter Fifty-One
Gabby stood up, resting her hand on Martin’s shoulder. “There’s something I need to say. I was the one who told the FBI about John.”
I felt my mouth drop open.
My father recoiled.
My mother looked thunderstruck.
Martin turned to Gabby, shocked. “Gabs,whatdid you say?”
“I turned John in. I tipped off the FBI.” Gabby put up her hands, like a traffic cop. “Mom and Dad, before you start yelling, let me explain. It started when—”
“Gabby!” My father jumped to his feet. “What were you thinking? You ruined John’s life! You destroyed the firm!”
“Gabby?” My mother rose, her eyes flying open. “He’s your brother, your own brother!”
“Now, let’s stay calm.” Martin rose. “Mom, Dad, hear her out. She didn’t do anything wrong. John did.”
“What?” my father shot back. “Martin, you don’t think it’s wrong to betray your own brother?”
“Dad, really?” I stood up before a fight broke out. “Martin’s right,calm down. Gabby wants to speak. Everybody, sit down, please. Chill.” I met my sister’s stricken eye from across the table. “Gabby, you sit down, too. You’re not in court and you don’t have to argue a case. Let’s just talk, like a family. We’re a family. Remember, everybody?”
“Weremember,” my father said pointedly.
Gabby swallowed hard. “I knew you’d be mad, but I can explain.”
Martin placed a comforting hand on her arm. “Go ahead, love.”
“Okay. Just know this wasn’t easy for me, and I didn’t want to do it. But I had to, and I did try to talk to John, but he blew me off.” She paused. “About a year ago, I referred a friend of mine from law school to him. Ted Lee, if you remember that name. Ted had a software start-up and needed a business lawyer. John incorporated him, but the bill was high and John told him it was normal. But Ted showed me the bill, and I could see it was padded. Every task took way too much time. It didn’t make any sense. You all know John, he’s efficient.”
