Chapter 14
The trial became two trials.
One for Vanessa’s bigamy, fraud, assault, and conspiracy.
One for Eric’s attempted corporate theft, unlawful restraint, coercion, and fraud.
The investigation into Mom’s accident stayed open.
Dad said justice sometimes moved slower than grief.
I did not like that.
But I started to understand it.
Vanessa tried to make a deal.
She offered to testify against Eric if they dropped the charge about locking us inside.
Eric offered to testify against Vanessa if they dropped the company charges.
Detective Reyes said guilty people often tried to trade knives after using them.
Clara said I did not need to understand adults at their worst.
But I wanted to.
Because not understanding had made me easier to trick.
I started keeping a notebook.
Not secrets.
Truths.
Vanessa said Clara lied.
Truth: Camera showed Vanessa lied.
Eric said he wanted family.
Truth: He wanted control.
Dad said he would listen.
Truth: He came when I called.
That last one mattered.
I watched him closely.
When a meeting ran late, he called before I worried.
When I said I hated reporters, he moved us to the back entrance.
When I said I wanted Mom’s photos in the hallway again, he hung them himself.
Not all at once.
But enough for the house to breathe.
One afternoon, Clara found me looking at the wedding ring Dad had almost used.
It sat in a small evidence bag on the dining table before Dominic collected it.
“It’s pretty,” I said.
“Yes.”
“I hate it.”
“That’s allowed.”
“Can something be pretty and bad?”
Clara nodded.
“Yes.”
“Like Vanessa.”
She sat beside me.
“Yes.”
I looked at her cheek.
The bruise had faded, but I remembered.
“Are you mad Dad didn’t believe you?”
Clara took a long breath.
“I was.”
“Now?”
“Now I am watching what he does next.”
May you like
That sounded exactly like what I was doing.
So we watched together.
