Chapter 14 - THE CALL
Naomi listened to the recording twice.
“That may be the stupidest call a sitting senator has ever made.”
Elliot did not smile.
“Can we use it?”
“Yes.”
“But carefully.”
State investigators received the recording before sunrise.
Charles immediately claimed his words were taken out of context.
Then investigators subpoenaed communications between his office and Ashbury.
Victoria stopped answering questions.
Her attorneys advised silence.
Peyton remained away from school.
Lila worried about her.
That surprised Elliot.
“She hurt you.”
He said.
“I know.”
“So why are you worried?”
“Because her mom scares her.”
Lila looked at him.
“You saw it too.”
Elliot had.
He remembered Victoria grabbing Peyton’s arm.
The way Peyton shrank.
Cruelty could travel downward through a family like water through pipes.
That did not excuse Peyton.
But it explained something.
Peyton eventually returned to Ashbury with her aunt.
Victoria and Charles had temporarily lost unsupervised custody while investigators reviewed allegations of coercion and emotional abuse.
Peyton asked to speak with Lila.
A counselor stayed in the room.
“I’m sorry.”
Peyton said.
Lila did not answer.
“I knew your lunches stopped.”
“I knew you were hungry.”
“I liked that you were scared of me.”
Lila looked at her.
“Why?”
Peyton cried.
“Because at home I’m scared all the time.”
Lila stayed silent.
Peyton continued.
“You don’t have to forgive me.”
“I just needed to tell the truth.”
Lila finally spoke.
“I don’t forgive you yet.”
Peyton nodded.
“Okay.”
“But I don’t want you hungry either.”
Peyton started sobbing.
Elliot watched through the glass.
He realized his daughter understood something many adults never learned.
Compassion did not require surrender.
That afternoon, investigators recovered deleted messages from Victoria’s phone.
One message to Charles became central.
MERCER’S GIRL IS BREAKING.
ANOTHER WEEK AND SHE’LL BEG TO LEAVE.
Charles replied.
GOOD.
MAKE SURE IT LOOKS LIKE HER CHOICE.
Elliot read the words.
His hands shook.
For three weeks, he had blamed himself for failing to notice.
May you like
Now he understood the truth.
They had counted on him not noticing.
