Chapter 5: The Weight of a Name
Gerald Harwell did not look at Destiny once.
That was the thing she noticed.
He spoke to the officers, he spoke to Renee, he even placed one brief hand on Diane's shoulder — but his eyes never moved to the sixteen-year-old girl standing four feet away with a folded note in her jacket pocket.
People who felt guilty looked too much or not at all.
Her father had told her that once, a long time ago.
"Mr.
Harwell," the taller officer said, and there was a slight shift in his posture that Renee clocked immediately, "we appreciate you coming forward, but this is an active situation."
"Of course.
I only want to offer context." Gerald's voice was smooth and measured.
"Diane is one of my senior directors.
She's been under considerable stress lately — a family matter.
I think what happened today was a reaction born out of anxiety, not malice.
I'm sure we can handle this without it going any further."
"Handle it," Renee said.
Gerald looked at her for the first time.
"I beg your pardon?"
"You said you want to handle it.
I'm asking what that means."
"It means I'm prepared to ensure that your daughter is compensated for any distress she experienced today.
Medical evaluation, any costs—"
"My daughter doesn't need your money."
"Renee." Destiny touched her mother's arm.
"She doesn't." Renee's voice didn't waver.
"What she needs is for the woman who grabbed her to be held accountable.
That's it.
That's the only thing we're here for."
Gerald smiled.
It was a practiced smile, the kind that had probably ended a hundred difficult conversations in boardrooms.
"I understand your frustration.
But I think if we all take a breath—"
"The man with the recording," Destiny said.
Every adult turned to look at her.
She hadn't planned to speak.
But the words were already out.
"The man who recorded everything," she said.
"Where did he go?"
The officers looked at each other.
The taller one spoke into his radio.
The shorter one scanned the plaza.
Gerald Harwell's practiced smile did not move.
But something behind his eyes did.
"I'm sure he's still nearby," he said.
"These things have a way of—"
"He was standing right there." Destiny pointed to the spot near the fountain.
"He said he recorded everything from the beginning.
And then he was gone."
"People leave," Diane said.
Her voice had recovered some of its edge.
"It doesn't mean anything."
"He left right after Mr.
Harwell arrived," Destiny said.
The courtyard went quiet.
Renee looked at her daughter.
Then at Gerald.
Then back at her daughter.
"Destiny," she said carefully.
"Is there something you need to tell me?"
Destiny's hand moved to her jacket pocket.
Her fingers touched the folded edge of the note.
She looked at Gerald Harwell.
He was watching her now.
Completely still.
The smile was gone.
May you like
"Not yet," she said.
"But I will."
