Chapter 7 - The Enabler’s Choice
I sat in my lawyer's office, the journals laid out on the mahogany desk. My lawyer, a sharp, older woman named Evelyn Vance, read through the pages with a grim, stoic expression.
"This is sickening, Clara," Evelyn said, looking up. "But legally, it’s complicated. These journals are fifteen years old. The statute of limitations on physical abuse has passed, and Trevor’s cause of death was ruled as natural heart failure due to prolonged illness. Reopening a homicide investigation based on these diaries will take months, if not years."
"But it proves her intent with Lucy," I argued, my hands clenching. "It proves she is a serial predator. She wants Lucy sick so she can be the tragic, heroic grandmother who saves her—or mourns her."
The door to the office opened, and Derek walked in. He looked exhausted, his suit wrinkled. After the arrest, he had finally realized that his own daughter had been a pawn in Eleanor’s sick game.
"Clara," Derek said, his voice quiet. "Your mother’s lawyer contacted me. They want me to testify on her behalf. They’re offering to pay off my remaining business debts if I claim that you are mentally unstable and that you planted the peanut butter."
I stared at him, my heart stopping. "And what did you say?"
Derek looked at the floor, then up at me. For the first time since I had met him, the arrogant, selfish mask was gone. He looked like a father who had almost lost his child.
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"I told them to go to hell," he said. He reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, digital voice recorder. "I recorded the phone call. Her lawyer explicitly offered the bribe. And I can hear Eleanor in the background telling him what to say."
I let out a breath I felt like I’d been holding for fifteen years. "Thank you, Derek."
