Chapter 25
Dana’s cross-examination lasted almost an entire day.
Rachel fought every question.
“I was joking.”
“I was venting.”
“That was taken out of context.”
“I don't remember.”
“Michael told me to say that.”
“Carol misunderstood.”
Then Dana showed another message.
DON'T LEAVE MARKS WHERE THE DOCTOR CAN SEE.
“Context?”
Rachel stared at the screen.
“I was talking about rough play.”
“With Sophie?”
“Yes.”
“What kind of rough play leaves marks a doctor could notice?”
Rachel looked toward Avery.
He couldn't answer for her.
“I don't remember.”
Dana moved on.
“You said the closet was used for brief time-outs.”
“Yes.”
“Why was there a blanket inside?”
“I don't know.”
“A cup?”
“I don't know.”
“A night-light?”
“I don't know.”
“Why did you photograph Sophie asleep there?”
Rachel hesitated.
“She fell asleep.”
“For how long was she locked inside?”
“She wasn't locked.”
Dana displayed the exterior latch.
Rachel’s mouth tightened.
“Daniel could have installed that.”
I almost laughed.
Dana didn't.
“When?”
“I don't know.”
“Before or after police photographed it?”
Rachel looked away.
Dana played Carol’s testimony.
Then the calendar.
CLOSET.
FOOD.
CAMERA.
Rachel claimed Carol invented the meanings.
Dana showed messages between them using the same words.
Rachel claimed she didn't remember.
Then came the fake voice.
“Did you create a recording using Daniel’s voice?”
“No.”
Dana displayed the project file.
Rachel changed the answer.
“Michael helped.”
“That wasn't my question.”
“I may have made part of it.”
“Why?”
“To calm Sophie.”
The jury looked stunned.
Dana played the line again.
Bad girls stay alone until they learn.
“Calming?”
Rachel’s face flushed.
“I was trying different parenting methods.”
Dana let silence answer.
Then she moved to financial fraud.
“Did you forge Daniel’s signature?”
“No.”
“Never?”
“No.”
Dana displayed an audio note in Rachel’s own voice.
Practice Daniel signature before Monday.
Rachel stared at it.
“Is that your voice?”
“Yes.”
“What were you practicing?”
“I don't remember.”
Dana looked at the jury.
Then the insurance plan.
The Chicago trip.
The brake line.
Rachel denied all of it.
Dana showed the message.
SHE GOT SICK. HE'S STAYING.
WE'LL GET ANOTHER CHANCE.
“What chance?”
“I don't remember.”
“You wrote it.”
“Yes.”
“To Michael.”
“Yes.”
“The night Daniel canceled his Chicago drive.”
“Yes.”
“After Kevin had been paid five thousand dollars.”
“I didn't know what Kevin did.”
“You met Kevin at the gas station.”
“To discuss surveillance.”
“You drove Daniel’s car there.”
“I don't remember.”
“There is video.”
“I may have.”
“For surveillance?”
“Yes.”
“Was the surveillance device ever recovered?”
“No.”
“Because it never existed?”
“I don't know.”
Dana took a breath.
Then came the question that broke Rachel’s calm.
“Did Sophie ruin your plan by getting sick?”
“No.”
“Michael testified you said she did.”
“He’s lying.”
“Did you blame Sophie?”
“No.”
“Did you punish her afterward?”
“No.”
Dana picked up a photograph.
It showed Sophie’s shoulder bruise.
The date was three days after my canceled trip.
“Did you make this mark?”
Rachel stared.
“No.”
“Who did?”
“I don't know.”
“Daniel?”
“Possibly.”
My fists clenched.
Dana had been waiting for that.
“When was Daniel home?”
Rachel hesitated.
Dana displayed my work logs.
Travel records.
Kevin’s surveillance notes.
I had been out of town during the period the bruise appeared.
Not Chicago.
A one-day work trip to a nearby city.
Rachel had just accused someone with an alibi.
Dana stepped closer.
“Who hurt Sophie?”
Rachel looked at the jury.
“I don't know.”
Dana's voice became quiet.
“You know exactly who did.”
Avery objected.
Sustained.
But Rachel’s composure was slipping.
Dana changed direction.
“Why did you keep Sophie from her teacher?”
“I didn't.”
“Why change Daniel’s email?”
“I didn't.”
“Your handwriting is on the school form.”
“I filled it out because Daniel asked me to.”
“I did not,” I whispered.
Claire nudged me.
Dana produced the mirror video last.
Rachel practicing tears.
Daniel scares me.
Daniel has always had a temper.
I stayed because I love Sophie.
Then:
Better.
Rachel watched herself.
The jury watched Rachel.
Dana asked only one question.
“Were you afraid when you made this video?”
Rachel’s face changed.
“It was therapy.”
“Your therapist requested it?”
“No.”
“What therapy?”
“Self-therapy.”
Someone in the gallery made a sound.
The judge warned everyone.
Dana returned to the table.
“No further questions.”
Rachel stepped down.
For the first time, she looked at me directly.
Her eyes contained no tears.
Only hatred.
The defense called two more witnesses.
Neither mattered much.
Then both sides rested.
Closing arguments were scheduled for Monday.
That weekend, Sophie and I went to Emily’s grave.
I hadn't brought her there in months.
She placed a small drawing beside the flowers.
“What did you draw?”
“Us.”
The picture showed three people holding hands.
“Mommy has wings again.”
“Yes.”
Sophie sat on the grass.
“Would Mommy be mad at you?”
The question surprised me.
“For what?”
“For marrying Rachel.”
My throat tightened.
I sat beside her.
“I don't know.”
Sophie thought about it.
“I think she'd be mad at Rachel.”
“Probably.”
“And then she'd tell you not to be dumb again.”
I laughed so suddenly I cried.
“That sounds exactly like your mother.”
Sophie leaned against me.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“After court, can we go to the lake house?”
I looked at her.
“You want to?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Mommy liked it.”
That was enough.
Monday came.
Dana’s closing argument lasted ninety minutes.
She laid the evidence together.
Not one witness.
Not one recording.
Not one bruise.
A pattern.
A system.
A plan.
Then she pointed toward Rachel.
“A five-year-old girl was treated as a problem to control and an inheritance to capture.”
Rachel stared straight ahead.
Avery’s closing focused on reasonable doubt.
Criminal witnesses.
Deals.
My violence.
Carol’s lies.
Michael’s fraud.
Kevin’s crimes.
Patricia’s jealousy.
He asked the jury not to convict Rachel because everyone around her was terrible.
Dana stood for rebuttal.
“She chose those people.”
Then the jury left.
One hour passed.
Two.
Five.
They were sent home overnight.
The next day, nothing.
On the third day, the court announced they had reached verdicts.
I called Laura.
She put Sophie on.
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Is it done?”
“Almost.”
“Come home after.”
“I will.”
I entered the courtroom.
Rachel was already seated.
The jury filed in.
The foreperson stood.
My heart pounded so loudly I barely heard the clerk ask:
“On Count One, child abuse of a minor, how do you find the defendant?”
May you like
The foreperson answered.
“Guilty.”
