But I had never imagined she would be the person who finally broke the family’s silence.
“Clara,” she whispered.
I tried to sit up, but the pain stopped me.
Rachel, my attorney, stepped forward.
“Take your time, Margaret. We’re listening.”
Margaret looked at me, then at the folder on my bed.
“I should have spoken years ago,” she said. “And I’m sorry I didn’t.”
She opened her handbag and removed a small USB drive.
“I have recordings.”
My heart began beating faster.
“What recordings?”
Margaret swallowed.
“Conversations between Diane and Paul. Not just about you. About what they did to other people.”
Rachel took the USB drive carefully.
“How did you get these?”
Margaret lowered her eyes.
“Because Diane used to call me whenever she needed someone to clean up her mess.”
She explained that years earlier, Diane had physically attacked Paul’s younger sister during an argument. The family had called it an accident. Later, when another relative threatened to report Diane’s behavior, Paul persuaded him to stay quiet.
