Chapter 19 - Diane’s ChoiceDiane could have demanded everything.
Lawyers told her so.
Decades of transactions could be challenged.
Walter’s ownership might be stripped down to a fraction.
Millions could return to Diane through settlement.
She spent one night thinking about it.
The next morning, she called Caleb and Tessa.
“I don’t want the money.”
Caleb frowned.
“Mom, it’s yours.”
“No.”
“Walter stole it from you.”
“Yes.”
“Then take it back.”
“I’m taking back what matters.”
She proposed that any recovered historical assets be divided.
A portion would secure her retirement.
A portion would fund the employee restructuring.
The remaining land surrounding Blackstone would enter a conservation trust.
Caleb stared.
“You’d give up tens of millions.”
“I’m seventy-one.”
She smiled sadly.
“How much money do you think I can eat?”
Tessa laughed despite herself.
Diane continued.
“Your grandfather Edwin wanted the mountain protected.”
She looked toward Elliot.
“So protect it.”
Elliot was building a model airplane at the table.
He glanced up.
“Can people still hike there?”
“Yes.”
“Can kids go there?”
“Yes.”
“Can Grandpa?”
The adults exchanged looks.
“Probably not anytime soon,” Tessa said.
Elliot returned to the airplane.
“Good.”
Later that afternoon, Elliot asked Caleb to walk outside with him.
The boy still used one crutch.
They moved slowly through the backyard.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Did you help Grandpa?”
Caleb stopped.
Children had a way of crossing directly into the question adults spent hours avoiding.
“Sometimes.”
Elliot looked at him.
“With the cliff?”
“No.”
“Before?”
“Yes.”
“What did you do?”
Caleb crouched so they were eye level.
“I signed papers I shouldn’t have signed. I ignored things I shouldn’t have ignored. I let Grandpa make decisions because arguing with him was hard.”
Elliot frowned.
“That sounds different from pushing me.”
“It is.”
“But it was still bad?”
“Yes.”
“Are you going to jail?”
Caleb almost laughed.
“I don’t think so.”
“Are you going to lie about it?”
“No.”
Elliot nodded.
“Okay.”
That simple word nearly broke Caleb.
“You’re not angry?”
“I am.”
Caleb waited.
“But Mom says people can be angry and still tell the truth.”
“She’s right.”
Elliot looked down at his shoe.
“Grandpa always acted like if he admitted he was wrong, he would disappear.”
Caleb stared at his son.
“Where did you learn that?”
“Therapy.”
Caleb smiled faintly.
“Therapy sounds expensive.”
“It is.”
They both laughed.
Then Elliot became serious.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“Don’t disappear.”
Caleb’s eyes filled.
“I won’t.”
The criminal case moved toward indictment.
Curtis Vale testified before the grand jury.
Owen testified.
Diane testified.
The forensic technician explained the two-point force pattern on the harness.
Nora explained Walter’s financial motive.
The recovered trail footage showed the smile.
Finally, prosecutors played Elliot’s voice recording.
Grandpa… don’t.
Then the scream.
Walter was indicted on attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy, child abuse, evidence tampering, financial crimes, and related counts.
The defense requested trial.
Walter refused every plea offer.
“He thinks he can win,” Caleb said.
Diane shook her head.
“No.”
She knew him better.
“He thinks losing in public is worse than prison.”
May you like
Tessa looked toward the courthouse.
“Then he’s going to have to learn.”
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