Chapter 18 - The Men Who Don't Want Details
Federal investigators moved quietly.
No dramatic raid.
No agents carrying boxes for television.
Subpoenas.
Interviews.
Devices preserved.
Emails collected.
Halcyon's board placed Victor Hale on leave.
He resigned three weeks later.
His statement cited "distraction from ongoing business."
Camille read it aloud at breakfast and nearly choked.
"Distraction?"
Adrian poured coffee.
"Rich people don't have scandals. They have distractions."
"You sound bitter."
"I am bitter."
"Healthy."
"No, it isn't."
"Still."
The criminal case around Lila remained state-centered.
The financial and corporate matters branched outward.
Securities lawyers.
Civil claims.
Regulatory reviews.
Shareholder demands.
Adrian learned more about legal procedure than he ever wanted.
Most of it was slow.
That surprised him.
Movies made justice look like doors kicked open.
Real justice looked like calendars.
Continuances.
Motions.
Affidavits.
People waiting in hallways.
For Lila, life moved faster.
She turned four.
No yacht.
No huge party.
Twenty-two balloons in Camille's backyard because Lila had changed the number three times and Adrian eventually surrendered.
She received a scooter.
A dinosaur.
A purple doctor's kit.
And from Adrian, a repaired Pip.
Not replaced.
Repaired.
A seamstress had reinforced his paw where the police had cut a tiny evidence sample.
Lila hugged the rabbit.
"He got surgery."
"Very serious surgery."
"Did he cry?"
"Constantly."
She giggled.
That evening, after cake, Adrian noticed a little girl from Lila's preschool sitting alone near the fence.
Lila walked over.
"Can I play with you?"
Adrian froze.
Four words.
Same four words.
But this time the other child smiled.
"Okay."
They ran off.
Adrian looked away because suddenly he was crying.
Camille handed him a napkin.
"Allergies?"
"Shut up."
"October is brutal."
He laughed through it.
Healing was sneaky.
It happened inside ordinary moments.
Then court dragged them backward.
Corinne's defense moved to exclude portions of Lila's statements.
They argued she had been influenced by adult questioning.
Experts fought.
Transcripts were dissected.
Every word became technical.
Adrian wanted to scream.
Hannah reminded him, "The process questioning evidence is not the same as the process questioning Lila's worth."
"I know."
"Do you?"
He hated when competent people did that.
The judge ultimately allowed certain properly collected statements while limiting others.
The case survived.
Then Corinne offered a plea.
Attempted murder reduced to a lesser violent felony.
Significant prison time, but less than prosecutors intended to seek at trial.
Ruiz explained why they had to consider it.
Adrian listened.
Then asked, "Would Lila have to testify if there's a trial?"
"Possibly not in open court. There are protective procedures. But yes, her statements and examinations would remain central."
"Would she know?"
"Eventually."
He went home.
Sat beside Lila while she built a tower.
She had no idea adults were discussing whether she might someday have to describe the worst moment of her life to strangers.
Adrian called Ruiz the next morning.
"I won't oppose the plea because I want revenge."
Ruiz waited.
"I also won't support one just because trial scares me."
"That's fair."
"What do prosecutors think?"
"That the evidence is strong."
"Then try it."
"You're sure?"
Adrian looked at Lila's drawing taped to the refrigerator.
Five chairs.
One girl.
One father running from a square door.
"No."
He swallowed.
May you like
"But do it anyway."
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