Chapter 9 - The Fall of the Dynasty
News of Evelyn Vance-Carter’s arrest spread through El Paso County like wildfire.
By the next morning, local headlines splashed her mugshot across every front page: Prominent Local Socialite Arrested in Shocking Child Abuse Case. The pristine facade of the Carter family legacy dissolved overnight.
I sat in Harrison’s office, sipping black coffee while Lily colored happily at a small wooden table in the corner. For the first time in months, her laughter sounded light, free of the shadow that had hung over her.
Harrison leaned back in his leather chair, reviewing a document on his desk.
"CPS has officially granted you full temporary physical and legal custody, Mark," Harrison said, looking over his glasses. "Taylor didn't even contest the order. Her legal standing is completely shattered."
"Where is Taylor now?" I asked quiet.
"In therapy, according to her lawyer," Harrison replied. "And trying to distance herself from Evelyn’s legal team. But Jonathan Reed isn't backing down without a fight. Evelyn posted a half-million-dollar bail yesterday afternoon. She’s staying at her estate on West Ridge Road under house arrest."
I felt a cold sensation in my chest. "She’s out of jail?"
"On electronic monitoring," Harrison clarified. "Reed is preparing a defense strategy. He’s going to argue that Evelyn suffers from early-stage dementia and cognitive impairment—claiming she wasn't of sound mind when the incident occurred to avoid prison time."
I slammed my cup onto the table, splashing coffee onto the wood. "Dementia? She planned every move! She put a padlock on the freezer after I left! She lied under oath in court!"
"I know," Harrison said calmly, standing up and walking around his desk. "And that's why we are going to make sure the judge sees through it. But to do that, we need to uncover the full scope of what Evelyn did—not just to Lily, but to Taylor."
"Why Taylor?"
"Because if Reed succeeds in framing Evelyn as a confused old woman, Taylor becomes the ultimate fall person," Harrison explained. "Reed will argue that Taylor knew about her mother’s mental state and allowed her around Lily anyway, shifting all criminal liability onto your ex-wife. We need Taylor to testify against her mother in open court. If she breaks silence, Evelyn goes to state prison for years."
I looked over at Lily, who was drawing a picture of our small apartment with bright yellow sunbeams.
May you like
"Taylor is terrified of her mother," I said softly. "Evelyn controlled her entire life. I don't know if she has the strength to stand up to her."
"She’s going to have to find it," Harrison said grimly. "Because next Tuesday is the preliminary trial hearing. And Evelyn’s defense team is going to pull out every dirty trick they have left."
