Chapter 9 - MARTIN’S SECOND LETTER
Nine months after I found Natasha, Abigail agreed to come to Malcolm’s office.
Brock happened to be attending a separate scheduled legal meeting elsewhere in the suite.
He walked past the glass conference-room wall.
Saw Abigail.
Stopped.
Fear first.
Then anger.
He turned away.
Abigail watched him.
“Still runs when someone remembers correctly.”
She placed an old engagement photograph on the table.
Twenty-two-year-old Brock.
Abigail beside him.
Ring visible.
I touched the photograph.
“My husband knew.”
“Yes.”
Then she gave me the original settlement.
It was worse than the photocopy.
Alleged unlawful restraint.
Interference with transportation.
Threats involving family property.
Medical costs.
Confidential resolution.
A handwritten addendum signed by Martin:
I ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENSURING BROCK HAS NO FURTHER CONTACT WITH ABIGAIL ROSS.
“He knew exactly what Brock did,” I whispered.
Abigail nodded.
Then she removed another envelope.
Martin’s handwriting.
“He gave me this the last time we met.”
Inside:
ABIGAIL—
I HAVE CONVINCED MYSELF THAT BROCK WILL CHANGE.
I DO NOT KNOW WHETHER I BELIEVE IT.
IF HE EVER DOES THIS TO SOMEONE ELSE, SEND THIS TO HENRIETTA.
I’M SORRY.
—MARTIN
I could barely breathe.
My husband had not merely covered one ugly mistake.
He had feared repetition.
And still hidden the truth from me.
Three things rearranged themselves in my memory.
Brock using my name to isolate Natasha.
Martin’s belief that one decisive person should control difficult situations.
And Brock’s lifelong certainty that property became negotiable whenever he decided its owner was making the wrong choice.
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I had thought I was uncovering what happened to Natasha.
Now I was beginning to understand how Brock learned to believe he could always manage the consequences afterward.
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