Chapter 19 - WHAT DIANE FINALLY ADMITTED
Before trial, Diane asked to see me.
I refused twice.
The third time, she sent a message through Ortiz.
I need to tell Daniel why I kept Laura’s phone. The real reason.
I went.
Diane looked smaller.
Gray roots showing.
No makeup.
No jewelry.
Nothing left to perform.
“You said it was insurance.”
“It was.”
“Against Thomas?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
She looked at me.
“Against myself.”
I frowned.
“Laura recorded another conversation.”
“What conversation?”
“The night before she died.”
My chest tightened.
“You deleted it?”
“I thought I did.”
Forensics had recovered damaged fragments.
Diane told me the rest.
Laura confronted her one final time.
She offered Diane a choice.
Go to the police voluntarily.
Tell Daniel everything.
Help protect Emma’s trust.
In exchange, Laura would ask prosecutors to consider Diane’s cooperation.
“What did you say?”
Diane cried.
“I told her no.”
Of course.
“She said Thomas was dangerous. She said Grant was out of control.”
“And you still refused.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want to lose my life.”
I stared at her.
“You mean your lifestyle.”
She nodded.
At least she finally stopped lying.
“What happened next?”
“Laura said she was telling you in the morning.”
My heart tightened.
“She never got the morning.”
“No.”
Diane wiped her face.
“After she left, I called Thomas.”
There it was.
The final missing piece.
“What did you tell him?”
“That Laura was going to you.”
“Did you know what he would do?”
“No.”
I stared at her.
She corrected herself.
“I knew he would stop her.”
My throat tightened.
“But you didn’t know how.”
“I didn’t ask.”
That was worse.
Sometimes guilt didn’t require knowing the weapon.
Only knowing someone would use one.
“You set her in motion toward her death.”
Diane closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
I stood.
She whispered, “Do you think Emma will ever forgive me?”
I looked at my mother.
“No.”
She flinched.
Then I continued.
“And you are never going to ask her to.”
Diane began crying.
“She gets to grow up without carrying your need for forgiveness.”
I walked toward the door.
“Daniel.”
I stopped.
“I did love you.”
I turned.
“I know.”
Her face crumpled.
“That’s what makes this worse.”
May you like
Then I left.
For the first time in my life, I didn’t look back.
