I reached for it.
Daniel shoved me.
Hard.
My shoulder struck the wall.
Then my head.
Even without sound, the violence looked worse than I remembered.
Perhaps violence always does when you watch it happen to somebody else.
In the video, I stumbled.
Daniel pointed toward the stairs.
Vanessa said something.
Then Daniel grabbed my arm.
The recording ended.
Nobody in the courtroom made a sound.
I looked at my son.
He would not meet my eyes.
Judge Mercer removed his glasses.
“How did you obtain this?”
“Arthur installed interior cameras several years ago after we had a burglary.”
Daniel looked up.
“You told me those cameras didn’t work.”
I met his eyes.
“I told you the cameras in the kitchen didn’t work.”
His face changed.
He remembered.
The hallway camera.
The study camera.
The garage camera.
The camera facing the safe.
Vanessa turned to him.
“You said the system was dead.”
“It was supposed to be.”
“What did you do?”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You told me—”
Hale stood.
“I am terminating my representation.”
Daniel stared at him.
“What?”
Hale gathered his papers.
Judge Mercer’s eyebrows rose.
“On what basis?”
“I believe there may now be a conflict involving statements made to counsel.”
Daniel stood.
“You can’t leave.”
“I can, and I am.”
“You said this was guaranteed.”
Hale’s face went pale.
“Mr.
Vance, I strongly advise you not to say another word.”
Guaranteed.
There are words attorneys dislike hearing in court.
That is one of them.
Judge Mercer leaned forward.
“Mr.
Hale, did you make representations to your client concerning the outcome of this proceeding?”
“No, Your Honor.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“He said once she was declared incompetent, everything would be simple.”
Hale snapped toward him.
“I said no such thing.”
“You said Mercer signs emergency guardianships all the time.”
The room seemed to change temperature.
Judge Mercer became perfectly still.
Daniel realized his mistake.
So did Hale.
I felt something cold move through me.
Not fear.
Recognition.
Because that sentence connected something I had been unable to connect.
Until now.
Judge Mercer spoke very quietly.
“Mr.
Hale, I suggest you choose your next words carefully.”
