Chapter 10: What Justice Looked Like
Three weeks later, Richard Mercer sat across from his family attorney in a downtown office and signed the papers that began the formal fraud proceedings against Diane.
Lily knew this because he told her at dinner that night, setting down his fork and saying it plainly, the way he said all difficult things.
"It's filed," he said.
"Martin traced the remaining transfers.
The total is just over a hundred and three thousand dollars.
Gregory Holt's email chain establishes premeditated intent.
The forged signature on the deed amendment is confirmed by the Chicago hotel records." He picked up his fork again.
"Her attorney contacted mine this morning.
She's offering to return sixty percent of the transferred funds in exchange for a civil resolution rather than criminal referral."
"And?" Lily said.
"My attorney told hers that sixty percent was not a number we found interesting."
Lily looked at her father.
"What number do you find interesting?"
"All of it," he said.
"Plus the deed amendments reversed.
Plus costs." He ate a bite of his dinner.
"She has two weeks to consider."
"What if she doesn't agree?"
"Then it becomes a criminal matter." He said it calmly, without relish.
"That is her choice to make."
Lily thought about Becca.
"Becca will have to testify," she said.
"If it goes criminal."
"I know." He set down his fork again.
"I've spoken to Becca about it.
She's willing.
She's been very—" He paused, choosing the word.
"She's been very honest, actually.
More than I expected."
Lily nodded.
She had been talking to Becca.
Not every day.
Not easily.
But the conversations had been real in a way that nothing in the previous four years had been.
Becca had told her about the small cruelties she'd been directed to commit — the petty slights, the social exclusions, the dress — and had described each one with the flatness of someone taking inventory of a room they were ashamed to have lived in.
It was not forgiveness yet.
Lily was honest with herself about that.
But it was something.
Three days later, Diane agreed to the full terms.
Richard called Lily into the kitchen when the confirmation came through.
He showed her the email from his attorney.
Three lines.
Formal.
Final.
"It's done?" Lily asked.
"Her attorney signed the settlement agreement at four o'clock." He set the phone face-down on the counter.
"The deed amendments will be reversed within thirty days.
The full amount will be returned in two payments.
Gregory Holt has been formally reported to the state bar for his role in the asset transfer scheme."
Lily stood at the kitchen counter.
"She didn't even fight it," she said.
"No." He leaned against the counter beside her.
"I think when she left that night, she believed Becca would protect the box.
She believed she still had leverage." He paused.
"She miscalculated."
Lily thought about the box.
About the neat labeled folders.
About the months of careful preparation.
About the woman who had planned for every contingency except the one where her own daughter walked to the other end of the table.
"What happens to her now?" Lily asked.
"She lives with the choices she made." He said it without anger.
"That's all."
Lily looked at the counter.
At her father's phone lying face-down.
At the email that had closed something.
"Dad," she said.
"Hmm."
"I'm glad you cut the bag."
He was quiet for a moment.
Then the corner of his mouth moved.
May you like
Just slightly.
"So am I," he said.
