Chapter 8: David Comes Home to Something Different
He walked through the front door at 6:18 p.m.
looking like a man who had spent the day deciding he had already won.
His jacket was on.
His tie was straight.
He had the careful, composed expression of someone who had rehearsed what he was going to say and was confident in the script.
He stopped when he saw Patricia standing in the living room.
"Who are you?" he said.
"Patricia Osei.
I'm Rachel's attorney." She extended a card, held it out at arm's length, and waited.
He didn't take it.
"Rachel." He looked past Patricia to where I was standing near the hallway, Chloe on my hip.
"What is this?"
"This is your copy of the emergency protective order," Patricia said, setting a document on the side table since he hadn't taken the card.
"It was granted this afternoon.
It covers Chloe and Rachel.
Margaret Sterling is named as the respondent in the child protection component.
She is not permitted to be in the same residence as Chloe pending the hearing."
David's jaw moved.
"That is completely—"
"There's a second document beneath it," Patricia continued.
"That one pertains to you.
Given the documented threat made to Rachel last night and the financial irregularities we've identified in the marital estate, the court has granted a temporary freeze on the LLC account and the associated transfers pending a full forensic review."
The color left David's face in a single, visible drop.
"You had no right—"
"The court disagreed." Patricia's voice was pleasant.
"You'll also find a notice that the property registered under the Clearwater Family Trust in Ohio has been flagged as a potential marital asset.
Your attorney will explain the implications."
David turned to me.
The composure was gone.
What replaced it was something uglier.
"You did this," he said.
"You went through my private accounts.
You had no right to any of that.
I'll have it thrown out."
"The emails came from an account you shared the password to," Patricia said.
"The property records are public filings.
The recording of Margaret this morning was made legally under one-party consent." She tilted her head slightly.
"Your attorney is welcome to challenge any of it."
"Where is my mother?" he said.
"She was asked to make arrangements to stay elsewhere this evening, in compliance with the protective order.
She left approximately two hours ago."
David stared at me over Patricia's shoulder.
His hands were at his sides.
His right hand closed into a fist and then opened again.
"You think you've won something," he said.
"You haven't.
I have resources you don't.
I have a plan you don't know the half of.
And when my attorney is finished, you will have nothing — not this house, not your business reputation, nothing."
Chloe turned her face into my neck.
I held her a little closer.
"David," I said.
"I know about Carla."
The fist closed again.
Didn't open this time.
"I know about the house in Ohio.
I know about the trust.
I know about Phillip." I kept my voice quiet so Chloe wouldn't hear the shape of it.
"I know your mother knew from the beginning.
I know you were planning to leave before the end of the year.
I know all of it."
He said nothing.
"I'm not angry anymore," I said.
"I was.
But right now I'm just someone who needs you to leave my house so I can put my daughter to bed."
Patricia picked up her bag.
"Mr.
Sterling, you'll receive formal correspondence from my office tomorrow.
I'd recommend contacting your attorney tonight." She moved toward the door and held it open.
David stood in the center of the living room for a long moment.
He looked at me.
He looked at Chloe's face — the bruise, still visible, still his mother's handprint.
"I never wanted it to go this way," he said.
"I know," I said.
"You wanted it to go the way where I didn't find out."
He picked up his jacket from the chair where he'd dropped it.
He walked to the door.
He stopped on the threshold and turned back one last time.
"This isn't over," he said.
"No," Patricia agreed pleasantly.
"It's just starting.
Goodnight, Mr.
Sterling."
He left.
The door closed.
Chloe lifted her head from my shoulder and looked at the door.
"Daddy go?" she said.
I smoothed her hair back.
"Yes, baby.
Daddy went."
She considered this for a moment.
Then she held up her ragdoll.
"Dolly stay," she said.
May you like
"Yes," I said.
"Dolly stays."
