My phone buzzed.Richard sat across from us in the courthouse conference room.
His lawyer placed Daniel’s payment receipts before the judge.
“For twenty-five years, Daniel Mercer accepted money in exchange for silence,” she said.
“When payments stopped, he approached my client’s wife during a vulnerable time.”
The judge looked at Daniel.
“Did you accept these payments?”
“Yes.”
“Did you sign a confidentiality agreement?”
“Yes.”
Richard leaned back.
The judge turned to me.
“And you shared private documents with third parties?”
“I gave copies to people helping me preserve evidence.”
Richard’s lawyer lifted the red notebook.
“Mrs.
Elaine Mercer has been under a competency order for three years.
Her notes cannot be treated as reliable.”
For one terrible moment, Richard looked as if he had won.
Then the doors opened.
Frank entered with a woman carrying two archive boxes.
Richard’s lawyer stood.
“Who is this?”
“My name is Dr.
