Chapter 9 - THE HEARING
Claudia's attorney objected immediately.
The judge allowed the county to proceed.
Dana testified first.
She described Ethan's condition at the hospital.
She described the backyard.
The laundry-room chair.
The recordings.
Then the county attorney displayed one of Claudia's emails on a screen.
Mark stared at it.
Richard watched his son realize that the woman he had defended had been planning something he never understood.
Claudia leaned toward her attorney and whispered rapidly.
The judge noticed.
“Mrs. Whitaker, you will have an opportunity to speak with counsel.”
Claudia sat back.
Mark was called next.
His answers were painful.
“Yes, Ethan was outside.”
“Yes, I knew.”
“No, I did not bring him inside.”
“Yes, Claudia was responsible for most discipline.”
Then the attorney asked the question Richard had been waiting for.
“Mr. Whitaker, did you believe your son was severely behaviorally impaired?”
“No.”
“Did you believe he was violent?”
“No.”
“Did you authorize your wife to seek such a diagnosis?”
Mark looked at Claudia.
“No.”
Her eyes narrowed.
The attorney produced another email.
Mark's name appeared beneath it.
Authorization granted.
The courtroom went still.
“Is that your email address?”
“Yes.”
“Did you send this?”
Mark stared.
“I don't remember.”
“That wasn't my question.”
Mark swallowed.
“No.”
The attorney looked toward the judge.
“We request permission to submit preliminary evidence that someone had access to Mr. Whitaker's electronic accounts.”
Claudia's attorney stood.
“Objection.”
The judge overruled him.
By lunchtime, the emergency decision came.
Ethan would remain with Richard.
Mark would receive supervised visitation only.
Claudia would have no contact.
The order would stay in place pending a full investigation.
Richard should have felt victorious.
He didn't.
There was no victory in a courtroom deciding which adults had failed a three-year-old boy least.
Outside, reporters gathered near the steps.
Richard ignored them.
Mark followed him.
“Dad.”
Richard stopped.
“I didn't send that email.”
“I believe you.”
Mark looked stunned.
“You do?”
“Yes.”
Mark exhaled.
Then Richard continued.
“But you signed the bank papers.”
Mark's relief disappeared.
“You approved transfers.”
Mark looked down.
“You left Ethan outside.”
Mark closed his eyes.
“One crime you didn't commit doesn't erase the choices you made.”
Mark began to speak.
Richard walked away.
Arthur caught up near the parking lot.
“We found something.”
Richard stopped.
“What?”
“The electronic authorization came from the Hawthorne mansion.”
“Claudia?”
“Maybe.”
Arthur handed him a printout.
“The login occurred at 2:13 a.m.”
Richard frowned.
“So?”
Arthur looked at him.
“According to Claudia's phone records, she was in Chicago that night.”
Richard stared.
“Then who was in the house?”
May you like
Arthur's expression hardened.
“Mark.”
