Chapter 8: Money, Motives, and Fear

After watching the video, I felt cold sweat soaking my back.

I never imagined that before Caleb killed Mark, they’d actually sat and talked it out.

Mark agreed to be killed for $90,000 for his family.

With this video, Caleb could escape the death penalty.

Legally, arranged killing is a lesser crime—three to ten years, not death.

But right then, I was more worried about something else.

…

I copied the video to my phone and rushed to the jail.

Caleb wouldn’t look at me, just asked quietly:

“Did you give the evidence to the police?”

I shook my head, then asked, “Why didn’t you show this earlier?”

I expected some big reason, but he just shrugged:

“At first, I didn’t think I’d get the death penalty. I accused Tom Reynolds, hoping for a lighter sentence. Once they upheld the verdict, I realized I’d never see the money.”

He bowed his head in shame:

“I knew after accusing Tom, I’d lose the $180,000. But I wanted to use the video to blackmail Tom after I got out. That’s why I kept quiet at the second trial.”

I was furious.

“You…”

I pointed at him, shaking.

Even now, he was thinking about the money.

“Man, I…”

“Shut up! You killed someone! Do you get that?”

I wanted to scream at him, shake him, anything to make him see what he’d done. But all I could do was stare at the table, heart pounding.

“You killed for money, and you still don’t care! What’ll it take for you to realize?”

“Man... I turned myself in.”

“You didn’t! You just wanted a lighter sentence! The only reason you’re showing this now is to get back at Tom!”

I was losing it; this case had chewed me up.

I never thought money could twist someone so much.

Caleb’s face crumpled:

“Man, I was wrong. But that’s $180,000. I’ve never seen that much…”

“Why don’t you get it!”

He was admitting fault, but my anger just kept burning.

I kicked the chair, sent it crashing into the wall. The guard burst in:

“What are you doing?”

I tried to calm myself:

“Sorry, I lost it.”

The guard glared as he left:

“This is jail. Watch yourself.”

I dragged the chair back and sat down.

“When I leave, I’ll give the video to the prosecution. The case will be reopened. But this isn’t enough. If you want Tom convicted, you need to tell me Mark’s secret.”

Caleb broke down, tears streaming:

“Man.”

“Mark never told me.”