Chapter 17 - LAURA’S UNSENT EMAIL
Corinne wore gray.
That was the first stupid thing I noticed.
The second was her wedding ring.
Mine had been sitting in a drawer for weeks. Hers remained on her finger when she walked into court surrounded by attorneys.
For one unbearable second I saw both women at once.
Corinne at our wedding.
Corinne standing beside Laura’s wreck saying, Where’s the phone?
My mind could not make them the same person.
Then I remembered that both had always existed.
I had only been allowed to meet one.
The charges were read.
Reckless conduct resulting in death.
Leaving the scene.
Evidence tampering.
Obstruction.
The financial matter involving Northcrest was proceeding separately.
The case involving Maisie was also moving forward.
Then the judge asked Corinne for her plea.
“Not guilty.”
Two words.
I knew they were legally ordinary.
They still hit me.
Not guilty.
Laura’s voice was sitting on a forensic server saying, You hit me.
Not guilty.
Her phone had been wrapped in Evelyn’s scarf.
Not guilty.
My daughter had bruises.
Not guilty.
Rachel must have seen my face.
“It’s a plea,” she whispered.
“I know.”
“It isn’t the final truth.”
I nodded.
Outside the courthouse reporters crowded around us.
“Mr. Carter, do you believe Corinne murdered your wife?”
I stopped.
Rachel touched my elbow.
I answered.
“No.”
The reporters went quiet.
One shouted, “You don’t?”
“I believe Corinne followed Laura. I believe their vehicles made contact. I believe Laura crashed. I believe Corinne reached her while she was alive, removed her phone, and left without calling for help. That is what the evidence supports.”
“So you forgive her?”
“No.”
“Then why not call it murder?”
I looked directly at the cameras.
“Because truth doesn’t become stronger when you exaggerate it.”
Then I walked away.
That was the first moment I understood how much Corinne’s way of thinking had infected every part of this story.
Corinne needed everything to be absolute.
Laura was evil so Corinne could be justified.
Daniel was a monster so Corinne could be innocent.
Maisie was difficult so Corinne could hurt her.
I had almost done the same thing.
Make Corinne a deliberate murderer because anything smaller felt insufficient for my grief.
I refused.
The truth was terrible enough.
Her defense attacked everything.
The road was wet.
Laura may have been driving too fast for the conditions.
The initial contact could have been accidental.
Evelyn was dead and could not explain the phone.
Daniel had participated in fraud himself.
Every point made me angry.
Some were also legitimate questions.
That was the part justice never advertises.
Truth can include facts that help someone you hate.
Then the financial investigation gave us something clean.
Most of the unrepaid Northcrest money had been traced to Corinne’s brokerage account.
Daniel had kept part.
He had also repaid $200,000 years earlier and preserved records.
Rachel asked, “Do you want to destroy him too?”
“No.”
“He participated.”
“I know.”
“Then what?”
I looked at her.
“I want him accountable for what he actually did.”
Not what his sister did.
Not what his mother did.
His part.
Nothing more.
At home, Maisie had learned a new word.
“No.”
Banana?
“No.”
Shoes?
“No.”
Bath?
A stronger “NO.”
Anna laughed.
I didn’t.
Not because it wasn’t funny.
Because I wanted Maisie to experience adults hearing the word and stopping.
She walked toward Laura’s cabinet and touched the photograph inside.
“Mommy.”
“Yes.”
Then she looked at me.
“Corinne no.”
My throat tightened.
“Yes, baby.”
Corinne no.
My phone rang.
The prosecutor.
May you like
A plea offer had been made.
And Corinne had rejected it.
