Chapter 11 - THE STORY RICHARD PLANNED TO TELL
Richard’s plan had already begun.
Before police stopped him at the airport, three emails had been scheduled from an anonymous account.
One went to a local newspaper.
One went to a television station.
One went to a family court attorney.
Each contained documents suggesting Daniel had anger problems.
Most were fake.
One photograph showed a hole punched through a wall.
Daniel had never seen the wall.
Another report claimed neighbors had heard him screaming at Emily.
The neighbor named in the report had died three years earlier.
Richard had manufactured an entire version of Daniel Mercer.
Violent husband.
Unstable father.
Financially desperate son-in-law.
Then came the most disturbing file.
A draft statement from Vanessa.
My husband has struggled with anger for years.
Vanessa stared at it.
“I never wrote this.”
Bennett nodded.
“But your electronic signature is attached.”
Vanessa looked horrified.
“My father had access.”
Daniel believed her.
Not because he trusted her.
Because Richard had forged other documents too.
The case against him expanded.
Obstruction.
Fraud.
Evidence tampering.
Conspiracy.
Falsification of medical records.
And potential charges related to Noah’s death.
Blackwood Medical Systems placed Richard on immediate leave.
The board announced an independent investigation.
Donors withdrew from Vanessa’s foundation.
Reporters surrounded Blackwood Manor.
The family name Richard had protected at any cost began collapsing in forty-eight hours.
But Daniel didn’t care.
He was sitting beside Emily when the news appeared on television.
She was coloring a horse.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Are we famous?”
Daniel turned off the television.
“No.”
“But they keep saying our names.”
“That doesn’t make us famous.”
“What does it make us?”
Daniel thought for a moment.
“People going through something private that became public.”
Emily considered that.
“Can we make it private again?”
Daniel’s heart broke.
“I’m going to try.”
She nodded.
Then she returned to coloring.
A few minutes later, she asked another question.
“Is Mommy going to jail?”
Daniel looked at her.
“I don’t know.”
“Do you hate her?”
Daniel chose his words carefully.
“I’m angry with her.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
He almost smiled.
Emily had always been too perceptive.
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because hating someone and trusting someone are different things.”
“Do you trust Mommy?”
“No.”
Emily nodded.
“Me neither.”
Daniel felt the weight of those two words.
Then Emily looked at him.
“But maybe someday.”
Daniel didn’t answer.
May you like
Because that decision belonged to Emily.
Not him.
