CHAPTER 6: THE DETECTIVE
Detective Webb showed up at the hospital again that afternoon.
"I got the footage," he said.
"And?"
"And it's clear. Your brother definitely assaulted your daughter. The menu didn't slip. He swung it. With intent."
I closed my eyes.
"I need to ask you something, Evelyn. And I need you to be honest with me."
"Okay."
"You said you recorded everything. Audio. Did you record anything before the wedding? Any conversations that might be relevant?"
"I have recordings of Preston and my mother discussing business. Illegal business."
Webb raised an eyebrow.
"Were you involved in these conversations?"
"No. They didn't know I was recording. They still don't."
"And you're willing to share these recordings?"
"On one condition."
"Name it."
"My daughter stays out of this. No media. No court appearances. She's eight years old. She's already been through enough."
Webb nodded.
"I'll do what I can. But I can't promise anything. This is going to get ugly."
"It's already ugly. It's been ugly my whole life."
He studied me for a moment.
"Can I ask you something personal?"
"Sure."
"Why didn't you leave sooner? Why did you stay in this family as long as you did?"
I thought about it.
About the years of silence.
The years of swallowing my pain.
The years of hoping things would change.
"Because they were my family," I said.
"And I didn't think I had anywhere else to go."
May you like
"But now you do?"
"Now I have my daughter. And she's all the family I need."
