Chapter 18 - THE FRIENDS WHO PICKED A SIDE
Divorce did more than divide two people. It exposed everyone around them.
Some friends disappeared. Others said they did not want to "take sides." I stopped explaining that recorded violence was not a philosophical disagreement.
Other people surprised me.
Ryan's former business partner offered records. A neighbor provided footage of Diane visiting Ryan repeatedly before the attack. His cousin said Diane had bragged that she would "teach Claire who really controls that marriage." Evidence arrived once people realized someone else had spoken first.
The biggest shock came from Ryan's younger sister, Megan.
She asked to meet me at Naomi's office.
I agreed.
Megan sat across from me with trembling hands.
"I should have warned you," she said.
"About what?"
"Mom did this before. Not the broom handle. The pressure. The money."
She told me Diane had taken out credit cards in Megan's name when she was twenty-one, then convinced the family Megan was irresponsible when payments were missed.
Ryan knew.
He told Megan to forgive their mother because "family doesn't involve police."
I felt sick.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Megan looked down.
"Because Ryan said you'd use it against Mom. And because I was ashamed."
I reached across the table and touched her hand.
"You don't need to be ashamed of what someone else did to you."
She started crying.
Then she opened her purse and pulled out an old envelope.
Inside was a handwritten letter from Diane to Ryan, dated eight months earlier.
One line was underlined twice.
SHE HAS MORE THAN ENOUGH. YOU JUST NEED HER TO UNDERSTAND THAT MARRIAGE MEANS SHARING.
Below it, in Ryan's handwriting, was a reply.
I'M WORKING ON IT.
Megan looked at me.
May you like
"I found that in Mom's desk after she got arrested."
And just like that, the last remaining doubt disappeared.
