Chapter 17 - Mason’s Brother
Aaron Cole wrote a book?
No, avoid monetizing. He did not.
He asked through victim services for one mediated meeting with Ethan, not Violet.
I almost declined.
Then accepted.
Why?
I wanted answer.
We met in neutral office seven years after attack.
Aaron looked older.
No badge.
“Ethan.”
“Aaron.”
He began:
“I’m sorry.”
“I know.”
Then I asked:
“When did you know it was Mason?”
He thought.
“When you said Harrier.”
“So before ring?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He had called me after.”
Right.
“Then why keep robbery?”
“Because if initial report said targeted attack connected to Mason, there would be immediate manhunt.”
“There should have been.”
“Yes.”
“What were you trying to buy?”
“An hour.”
“For?”
“To convince him turn himself in.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Instead he fled.”
Aaron nodded.
“Your hour became days.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Did you think Violet might die?”
“No.”
“Did you ask?”
His face broke.
“No.”
There.
He was thinking brother.
Not child.
Then:
“Did Mason ask you before?”
“No.”
“Would you have helped?”
“No.”
I believed.
Then:
“Why should I?”
“You shouldn't because I say.”
Good.
Then Aaron said:
“I spent career arresting people who said they lied for family.”
He laughed bitterly.
“I thought I was different because I wore badge.”
Then:
“I wasn't.”
We sat.
I asked:
“Do you blame Mason for your career?”
“No.”
Important.
“I made decision.”
Then:
“Do you speak?”
“No.”
“Mason?”
“No.”
Brothers ended.
Then Aaron asked:
“Do you forgive?”
“Yes.”
He looked shocked.
“I did years ago.”
“Why meet?”
“Because forgiving from distance didn’t answer question.”
He nodded.
Then:
“Violet?”
“Not yours to ask through me.”
“Right.”
Meeting ended.
No friendship.
Then I told Violet.
She said:
“I'm glad.”
“Want know details?”
“No.”
Boundary.
Then one day she received annual victim update:
Mason eligible for transfer to lower security facility.
Not release.
She shrugged.
“Okay.”
Healing.
Then Mason had completed seven years.
He had no disciplinary violence.
Worked library/legal? Fine.
Attended accountability programs.
None changed sentence.
Then he requested to send Violet one statement after no-contact order allowed mediated correspondence.
She said no.
Still.
Then later at twenty six she changed.
“Can I read whatever he wants send once?”
I supported.
Mason wrote:
Violet,
I used to tell people the worst thing a man can be is disloyal.
Then:
I was wrong.
The worst thing I became was someone who treated loyalty as permission.
Then:
You trusted me because I had earned it when you were a child. I spent that trust like money.
Good line.
Then:
I am sorry.
No request.
She read.
“Do you forgive?”
“I think I did long time ago.”
“Want reply?”
“No.”
Fine.
Then she folded and shredded.
No artifact.
May you like
Mason never knew forgiveness.
Not required.
