Chapter 18 - The Ghost in the MachineTwo weeks later, I sat at my mahogany desk in the home office, surrounded by stacked legal transcripts, medical reports from Sophie’s concussion treatment five years ago, and a flash drive containing the original 4K hotel CCTV footage from the Whitmore Hotel.
Marcus sat across from me in a comfortable leather armchair, sipping a cup of black coffee as he watched me type.
"The parole board is required by law to read your statement into the official record," Marcus said, setting his mug down. "Given the nature of the federal enhancements and the viral public profile of the case, a strong, documented victim impact statement from you will practically guarantee they slam the door shut on his application. He'll serve out the rest of his maximum sentence."
"I don't just want to oppose his release, Marcus," I said, my fingers pausing over the keyboard. I looked up, meeting his eyes. "I want to make sure the board understands why he cannot be rehabilitated. Preston isn't a normal criminal who made a mistake in a moment of passion. He is a textbook malignant narcissist who believes consequences only apply to other people."
Marcus nodded slowly, a grim smile touching his lips. "Write it, Evelyn. Put it all down."
I turned back to the screen and began to write.
I didn't write with anger; I wrote with cold, unyielding facts.
I detailed the psychological manipulation of our childhood, the thirty years of golden-child syndrome that created a monster, the meticulous premeditation of the theft hoax at the wedding, the brutal assault on an eight-year-old child on camera, and the lack of genuine remorse during his subsequent prison calls.
When I finished, the document was four pages long—a comprehensive, airtight indictment of a man who thought his last name was a shield against justice.
I printed two copies, signed them both, and handed one to Marcus.
"File it," I said quietly.
May you like
Marcus slipped the papers into his briefcase and stood up, buttoning his suit jacket. "Done. I'll handle the formal submission for the November 14th hearing. You don't even have to show up in person unless you want to read it aloud. We can submit it via video deposition or written record."
"I'll attend via video link," I replied steadily. "I want him to hear my voice. I want him to know that even from behind glass screens, I am still standing right in front of him."
