Emily almost closed her eyes.
After the wedding.
People always postpone hard truths until after something.
After the holidays.
After the baby.
After the wedding.
Sometimes after is too late.
The case moved slowly after that, because real consequences rarely arrive with the speed grief demands.
There were hearings.
Continuances.
Statements.
Evidence logs.
Phone records.
Surveillance stills.
A cash withdrawal that Diane could not explain without making herself look worse.
Cole Whitaker accepted a deal first.
He testified that Diane had contacted him through an old acquaintance, paid him in cash, and described Nathan’s car.
He admitted following them from the reception hall.
He admitted ramming the car.
He admitted leaving the scene.
When asked why he did not call for help, he looked at the table and said, “I panicked.”
Emily sat in the courtroom with her mother’s hand over hers and thought about the turn signal clicking in the rain.
