Chapter 6: The Little Girl Who Remembered Everything
The family court smelled of old paper, polished wood, and rain-soaked coats.
Theron sat beside Julian Ashcombe at a narrow table, his hands folded so tightly that his knuckles had turned white. Across the room, Corisande wore a charcoal suit and a small gold pendant. She looked composed enough to attend a charity luncheon.
She had cried during her interview with the court-appointed evaluator that morning.
Theron knew because her attorney had mentioned it twice.
He also knew she had brought a photographer to the courthouse entrance, although no photographs had been taken inside.
Everything about Corisande had become a performance.
Now she sat with Meredith Shaw, whispering behind one hand.
"Remember," Meredith said, "answer only what you're asked.""
Corisande nodded.
"Of course.""
"Don't interrupt him.""
"I said I understand.""
Meredith glanced at her, then looked away.
The judge entered, and everyone stood.
Judge Helena Whitcomb was a woman in her early sixties with silver-streaked hair and the sort of expression that made people reconsider every careless word before speaking it.
She reviewed the emergency custody filings, then lowered the documents.
"Mrs. Viremont, you are asking this court to restrict your husband's contact with your daughter because you believe he poses a risk to her.""
"Yes, Your Honor," Corisande replied.
"Because he pushed you into a swimming pool while holding the child?""
"Yes.""
"And you allege that this incident demonstrates a pattern of dangerous behavior.""
Corisande hesitated.
"I believe it shows who he really is.""
Judge Whitcomb studied her.
"That wasn't quite what I asked.""
Corisande straightened.
"I have felt intimidated by my husband for years.""
"Have you reported physical abuse before this incident?""
"No.""
"Have you sought medical treatment for injuries caused by him?""
"No.""
"Have you obtained a protective order previously?""
"No, Your Honor.""
The judge wrote something down.
Then she turned toward Theron.
"Mr. Viremont, do you dispute that you pushed your wife into the pool?""
"No.""
Julian's hand moved slightly, a warning not to say more than necessary.
Theron ignored it.
"I pushed her. It was wrong, and I have no excuse for it.""
Corisande looked at him sharply.
He continued.
"I saw my daughter's face after her mother struck her. I reacted in anger. I should have removed my daughter from the situation and contacted the appropriate people. Instead, I used force myself.""
The courtroom became quiet.
"I regret frightening my daughter," Theron said.
"I regret what I did to my wife. But I will not pretend that the slap never happened, either.""
Corisande leaned toward Meredith.
"He is doing this deliberately," she whispered.
Meredith did not respond.
Judge Whitcomb folded her hands.
"What concerns me most is not which parent can make the more convincing speech. It is whether either parent can place the child's needs ahead of personal anger.""
Her eyes settled on Theron.
"Mr. Viremont, you have acknowledged your actions. That is relevant, but it does not resolve the question of risk.""
"I understand.""
"Do you?""
Theron swallowed.
"Yes, Your Honor.""
"Then you will understand why I cannot simply accept your assurances that this will never happen again.""
The words struck harder than he expected.
Judge Whitcomb ordered both parents to follow a temporary safety plan while the investigation continued. Their communications would go through their attorneys or an agreed parenting application. A qualified child specialist would assess Eirlys's emotional needs. Neither parent was to question the child about the litigation or encourage her to take sides.
For the immediate future, Eirlys would remain at the family home with her established caregiver, Hannah, while supervised contact arrangements were evaluated. The court would reconsider both parents' roles after receiving independent findings.
Corisande's expression softened with relief.
Then the judge added, "This temporary arrangement is not a finding that either allegation has been proven.""
Corisande's smile disappeared.
Outside the courtroom, she caught Theron near the elevators.
"Well, that went beautifully," she said.
Theron stopped.
"You heard the judge. Don't speak to Eirlys about the case.""
"I don't need your instructions.""
"Then perhaps you can follow the court's.""
Corisande moved closer, lowering her voice.
"You think admitting you were wrong makes you look noble?""
"No.""
"You think they'll forgive you because you're rich?""
"No.""
"Then what exactly do you think you're accomplishing?""
Theron met her eyes.
"For the first time in our marriage, I'm trying to tell the truth even when it makes me look bad.""
Her lips parted.
Before she could respond, Meredith appeared.
"Corisande, we're leaving.""
Corisande looked at her husband one final time.
"You should have let the cameras record everything," she whispered.
Theron's gaze sharpened.
"What did you say?""
She stepped away.
"Nothing.""
But he had heard her.
And for the first time, he wondered whether the missing recording had been more than an unfortunate technical failure.
That afternoon, Julian received a call from Daniel Price, the security technician.
Theron sat in the study while Julian activated the speakerphone.
"We recovered a partial system log," Daniel reported.
"Not the actual video yet, but enough to establish that someone accessed the camera controls.""
"Whose account?"" Theron asked.
"Malcolm Reed's account was used. However, the connection came through a device that had not previously been registered to the estate.""
"Can you identify the device?""
"Not yet. We know it was physically connected to the local network shortly before the recordings disappeared.""
Theron turned to Julian.
"Someone had to be inside my house.""
"Not necessarily," Daniel replied.
"There are several ways to access a local network, but this requires further investigation.""
"Could Malcolm have done it?""
"Possibly. But there is another issue.""
Daniel hesitated.
"The system registered a second access attempt after the cameras were supposedly offline. Someone tried to erase the event log itself. That command failed.""
Julian sat forward.
"Can you recover the source?""
"I'm working on it.""
"What else can you tell us?""
"The administrator who disabled the recordings knew the system well enough to navigate directly to the archive controls. They did not simply unplug a cable.""
Theron stared at the window.
Someone had entered his home, or gained access to its security network, and deliberately removed the one recording that might have shown precisely what happened to his daughter.
He thought of Corisande's whispered comment outside the courtroom.
You should have let the cameras record everything.
"Daniel," he said, "preserve every record you have. Do not access the equipment without a second technician present. I want a complete chain of custody.""
"Understood, sir.""
The call ended.
Julian opened his notebook.
"If this is deliberate interference, it may matter greatly to the court.""
"And if it was Corisande?""
"Then we prove it.""
Theron stood, unable to remain in the chair.
"She admitted she hit Eirlys to her own attorney. Why would she go to such lengths to hide the footage?""
Julian studied him.
"That depends on what else was happening at your house that afternoon.""
Theron looked toward the staircase.
Eirlys was upstairs, coloring beside Hannah. He had promised not to question her, and he intended to keep that promise.
Then his phone rang.
It was Hannah.
"Mr. Viremont," she said, sounding frightened.
"I need you to come home.""
"What's happened?""
"Eirlys has drawn something.""
Theron exhaled.
"She's always drawing.""
"I know. But this time, she drew a man standing beside your wife. And when I asked who he was, she said something I don't think you should hear from me.""
His stomach tightened.
"What did she say?""
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Hannah's voice dropped to a whisper.
"She said, 'That's the man who told Mommy to make Daddy go away.''"
