Chapter 7 - Diane’s Choice
One investigator asked Richard to step away from the desk.
He refused.
“This is ridiculous. Mara is manipulating all of you.”
Mara opened the manila folder.
Inside was one piece of evidence Colonel Shaw had not revealed.
A recording.
On the morning of the accident, Diane had accidentally activated a voice assistant while placing her phone on the kitchen counter. The device recorded part of the conversation between her and Richard.
Diane had found the audio several days later.
At first, she deleted it.
Then she recovered it.
Now she stood in the office with a copy saved on her phone.
Richard turned toward her.
“Don’t.”
Diane’s hand trembled.
Colonel Shaw spoke gently.
“Mrs. Hale, this is your decision.”
Diane looked at Mara.
For years, she had chosen silence whenever Richard became cruel. She had called it keeping the peace, but the peace had always been purchased with someone else’s pain.
Mara did not beg her.
She did not need another promise.
She needed the truth.
Diane pressed play.
Richard’s recorded voice filled the office.
If she doesn’t wake up, we can make the claim as next of kin. If she does wake up, we get her signature before she understands how much it’s worth.
Several people gasped.
The recording continued.
Diane’s voice could be heard saying they should go to the hospital.
Richard replied that arriving too early would make them look desperate.
When the audio ended, Diane placed the phone on the desk.
“I knew what he was doing,” she whispered. “I told myself I couldn’t stop him.”
She looked at Mara, tears filling her eyes.
“But I could have tried.”
May you like
Mara’s expression remained calm.
“Yes,” she said. “You could have.”
