Chapter 4 - The Paper Trail of Malice
By the third day in the hospital, the initial shock had faded, replaced by the grim reality of a legal battle. Marcus Reed, a former military investigator turned private attorney and an old friend of Colonel Bennett, sat at the foot of Emily’s bed with a heavy laptop open.
"We have a problem, Colonel," Marcus said, looking up from the screen. "Linda hired Arthur Vance’s old defense team. They’re already filing a counter-suit in family court. They're claiming that Emily took the baby and fled the jurisdiction with the help of military interference."
Emily sat up, her ribs aching sharply. "What? They’re twisting it around?"
"They’re playing dirty, Emily," Marcus explained. "Ryan’s lawyers are alleging that the bruises were sustained during a 'clumsy fall' due to pregnancy-induced vertigo, and that your father used his military authority to unlawfully detain Ryan inside his own home. They’re trying to painting the Colonel as a rogue officer abusing his power."
Colonel Bennett stood by the window, looking out over the base parade grounds. "Let them file whatever they want. What do we have on the financial side?"
"That’s where it gets interesting," Marcus said, tapping the keyboard. "I pulled the records for the apartment lease. Ryan hasn't paid rent in three months. The money you thought was going to the landlord was actually being transferred directly to a private account owned by Linda. They were intentionally bleeding you dry, Emily, keeping you financially dependent so you couldn't afford to leave."
Emily remembered the arguments about the budget—how Ryan would scream at her for spending twenty dollars on groceries, claiming they were on the brink of eviction. "He told me we were broke. He made me feel guilty for every penny."
"It was a calculated strategy," Marcus said. "I also found security footage from the hallway of your building. I had to pull a few favors to get it before the landlord deleted it. Take a look."
He turned the laptop toward Emily. The black-and-white video showed the hallway outside their apartment from two weeks ago. Emily saw herself trying to walk out the front door, carrying a small bag. Ryan appeared in the frame, grabbing her arm violently and dragging her back inside before slamming the door shut.
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Emily covered her mouth, her body shaking as the memory flooded back. "He... he wouldn't let me leave to see the doctor that day. He said I looked too terrible."
Colonel Bennett walked over to the bed, his face like stone as he looked at the video. "That isn't just domestic battery, Marcus. That's kidnapping and unlawful confinement. Print every frame. We’re going to the federal prosecutor."
