Within a week Tyler was located at a casino in Reno and arrested. Madison was detained hours later at a bus station. Regina received a call confirming that both were in custody, and she felt no triumph, only a hollow exhaustion.
She traveled to Nevada to give an official statement. The district attorney, Rachel Adams, explained that Tyler faced extensive fraud charges and could spend over a decade in prison. Madison faced years as well unless she agreed to testify.
Regina requested a meeting with her sister before deciding anything.
Madison entered the interview room in a plain jumpsuit, hair pulled back, eyes swollen. She sat across from Regina with trembling hands.
“I am sorry,” Madison whispered. “I know sorry does not fix anything, but I mean it.”
Regina studied her sister’s face and saw fear rather than malice. “Tell me the truth,” Regina said. “All of it.”
Madison took a breath. “In Seattle I got involved with a married man. I took money to keep quiet. When it ended, Tyler found out. He said he would expose everything. I was ashamed. I felt trapped. When he said your accounts could save us, I broke.”