Change of Heart Read Free Page A

tone kind.
    It was clear who was who in the whole good cop/bad cop scenario.
    “Have you noticed any other elaborate purchases?” Agent Marnetti asked. “I mean, other than the house.”
    Evelyn frowned. “I don’t know. Christopher’s family has money. It’s not so hard to believe he’d be able to afford the things he’s bought.”
    “He lost all of his family’s money a few years ago, Mrs. Brandt,” Agent Todd said. “The senator made a few bad investments and lost it all.”
    “That’s not possible,” Evelyn said. “He would’ve told me.”
    “It seems there’s a lot he didn’t tell you,” Agent Marnetti replied. “Or maybe he’s just trained you really well on how to look innocent.”
    “That’s ridiculous,” Evelyn said. “Christopher handled all of our money. I never even paid attention.” Her voice trailed off at the realization. She hadn’t wanted to know about the money. Christopher assured her they were fine, and that was good enough for her.
    She trusted him.
    “Probably not the smartest choice.” Agent Marnetti crossed her arms. “I find it hard to believe you didn’t suspect anything. What about the cabin your husband purchased last month up in the mountains?”
    “Our vacation home?” Evelyn had thought it was a bit excessive when Christopher bought that place, but she wouldn’t tell them that.
    “Quite a price tag on a home you rarely stay in.”
    “He was going to rent it out. Try to make some extra income. Christopher is a brilliant businessman.”
    “Spare us the rhetoric, Mrs. Brandt.” Agent Marnetti pulled a walkie-talkie out of her pocket. “Come on in,” she said.
    Agent Todd stood. “Why don’t we go outside? You don’t need to watch this.”
    The front door opened, and a group of men in suits entered, rushing past Evelyn.
    “You can’t do this,” she said, her voice barely audible.
    Agent Marnetti stopped in front of her. “We have a warrant.” She snapped open a folded piece of paper and handed it to Evelyn.
    Her phone beeped. A new text message from Susan Hayes. Georgina would like a full report once the FBI leaves your house. We’ll finish our meeting at her house. Join if you can.
    “It’ll be easier for you if you come with me,” Agent Todd said.
    “You’re just going to go through all of our things?”
    “We’ll only take what’s pertinent to the case.”
    A man walked by with her laptop.
    “That’s mine. Christopher has nothing to do with that computer.”
    “He might have hidden things on it, Mrs. Brandt. We have to cover all the bases.” Agent Todd ushered her toward the front door. “You can wait in my car.”
    Evelyn’s head started to spin, her heart raced, and she couldn’t get a good, deep breath. Not now. She turned her phone over in her hand. “I need to call my husband.”
    Agent Marnetti snatched the phone from her. “Not a good idea.”
    “He won’t answer, Mrs. Brandt,” Agent Todd said.
    “How do you know that?”
    “According to our director, he was arrested about fifteen minutes ago.”
    Evelyn couldn’t process what she was hearing. “I just spoke with Christopher. He didn’t say anything. Why didn’t anyone call me?”
    “We couldn’t risk you destroying evidence. Now, please, let’s go outside.” Agent Todd opened the door.
    As Evelyn stepped onto the porch, she heard her name being called from the yard. She glanced up and saw four television cameras all fixed on her.
    “Mrs. Brandt, did you know about the senator’s embezzlement?”
    “Mrs. Brandt, are you an accomplice to the fraud?”
    “Did you know your husband was a crook?”
    Wondering if she’d ever wake up from this terrible nightmare, Evelyn took a backward step into the house and slammed the door. “Get those people out of my yard.”
    “We’re working on it.”
    Evelyn walked through the house, trying not to pay attention to the way these federal agents were carelessly searching through everything she owned. She went out to