Chapter 11 - The Hearing
The judge refused to remove Emily from my care.
But she did not dismiss the allegations either.
That was the part Rebecca wanted.
An independent guardian ad litem was appointed.
A full review would begin.
Dr. Mallory’s evaluation was suspended pending verification.
The judge also ordered that Rebecca have no contact with Emily.
Rebecca did not react.
Victor did.
His jaw tightened.
Outside the courtroom, I followed Rebecca toward the elevators.
Andrew tried to stop me.
“Michael.”
“I need one answer.”
Rebecca turned.
Victor stepped between us.
“My client has nothing to say.”
I looked around him.
“You told me Victor would come after Emily.”
Rebecca’s face changed.
“You heard the recordings.”
“Yes.”
Victor went still.
That was when I knew he hadn’t realized we found Laura’s archive.
Rebecca looked at him.
Then at me.
For the first time, Victor appeared genuinely afraid.
“What recordings?”
I smiled without humor.
“The ones Laura left behind.”
Rebecca closed her eyes.
Victor grabbed her arm.
“What did you give her?”
Rebecca pulled away.
“Don’t touch me.”
“What did you give Laura?”
A deputy stepped closer.
Victor released her immediately.
I leaned toward Rebecca.
“If you know Emily is in danger, talk to the detectives.”
Victor interrupted.
“She knows nothing.”
Rebecca stared at him.
Something shifted inside her.
Maybe she finally saw what I saw.
Victor had never protected her.
He had used her.
Rebecca looked at me.
“Your wife found records connecting him to four trusts.”
Victor’s face darkened.
“Rebecca.”
She kept talking.
“Families with money.”
“Children as beneficiaries.”
“Parents declared unfit.”
“Guardians appointed.”
“Assets moved.”
Andrew stepped closer.
“You’re describing a criminal scheme.”
Rebecca laughed bitterly.
“I’m describing twenty years of Victor’s life.”
“Then why did you help him with Emily?”
That question silenced her.
Her eyes met mine.
“Because he promised me something.”
“What?”
“Freedom.”
I almost couldn’t believe her.
“You were going to trade my daughter for your freedom?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Yes.”
The answer was so direct it stunned me.
“I thought Hawthorne would keep Emily comfortable.”
“She’s not luggage.”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I know now.”
I stepped back.
“That’s convenient.”
Rebecca wiped her face.
“Victor told me he only needed temporary control of the trust.”
“For Laura’s evidence.”
“Yes.”
“And the money?”
Her silence answered.
“You wanted some of it.”
“I wanted enough to leave.”
“You could have left anytime.”
“No.”
She looked at Victor.
“You have no idea what he does to people who leave.”
Victor smiled.
“This woman is obviously distressed.”
Rebecca reached into her handbag.
The deputy tensed.
She slowly removed a flash drive.
Victor’s smile disappeared.
“I made copies.”
She held it toward me.
“Of what?”
“Everything Victor told me to destroy after Laura died.”
Victor moved.
The deputy blocked him.
Rebecca gave the drive to Andrew.
“If something happens to me, open the folder marked June Seventeenth.”
I stared at her.
“What’s June seventeenth?”
May you like
Her face lost all color.
“The day your wife died.”
