Damien pulled the car over onto the shoulder of the highway. His hands gripped the steering wheel so tight his knuckles turned white. Derek was getting out? After everything he had done?"Say that again," Damien managed.Detective Chen's voice remained steady through the speakers. "Derek Campbell's attorney found that evidence was mishandled during his arrest. The restraining order violation technicality was not properly documented. Chain of custody issues with some physical evidence.""But the kidnapping plot. The planning. The maps of Emma's school.""Those charges remain but Derek successfully argued for release pending retrial due to prison attack injuries requiring ongoing medical care. The beating he took left him with permanent nerve damage. His lawyers convinced a judge he needs treatment outside the prison system."Damien looked back at Emma sleeping in her car seat. Innocent. Safe. Unaware that the monster who had tried to take her was about to walk free."What does this mea

Jennifer laughed softly at Damien's obvious discomfort. "I promise this is just a coincidence. I left social work six months ago because of burnout from difficult cases.""You left completely?" Damien asked."Completely. I took a corporate HR job here in Cedarville. It has better hours and less emotional trauma. The custody cases were destroying me mentally, I badly needed something easier."“I can't even imagine how draining that is,” Damien said, genuinely concerned. Claire and Emma were already sitting together on the school steps, comparing their drawings from art class. They laughed at their funny drawing and behaved like they had known each other for years."Claire just started at this school too," Jennifer continued. "We moved here two weeks before you did. She was terrified about being the new kid until she met Emma."Damien watched the girls laugh together. Emma looked happier than she had in months. "They bonded fast.""Both being new students helped. Claire said Emma was t

Damien stared at the email until the words blurred together. Derek is dead. Suicide? It was a note addressed to him and Emma.His hands trembled as he set the phone down. The kitchen was silent except for the hum of the refrigerator. Emma slept peacefully in her room, unaware.Derek Campbell had destroyed their lives. He had terrorized Emma, manipulated Lisa, and planned so much violence and chaos. And now he is gone.Damien thought he would feel relieved. Instead, he felt nothing. Just emptiness where anger used to live. He did not sleep that night. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Derek's face twisted with rage in the courtroom.Detective Chen called at eight the next morning. "Mr. Webb, I am calling about Derek Campbell. I assume you received notification from his attorney.""I did.""I need to provide some additional details. Derek hanged himself in his apartment sometime between midnight and three AM. He violated his house arrest protocol by disabling his ankle monitor firs

The courtroom was now filled with whispers. Damien felt the blood drain from his face. Michael Campbell's words echoed in his skull like a death sentence.He never threatened Derek. Not once. They had no contact after that final prison visit months ago when Derek had apologized through the glass.Richard shot to his feet. "Objection! This is pure speculation without evidence. Mr. Campbell is making serious accusations with no foundation."Judge Holloway raised her hand for silence. "Mr. Whitfield, do you have evidence supporting this claim?""We do, Your Honor." Whitfield produced a manila folder. "Letters written by Derek Campbell during his incarceration expressing fear of Mr. Webb."He handed copies to the judge and to Richard. Damien leaned over to read as Richard scanned the pages.The first letter was dated three weeks before Derek's death. The handwriting was shaky but recognizable from the suicide note."I am afraid," Derek had written. "Damien has connections. People who coul

Rachel Santos stood at Damien's door three days after the ruling. She looked thinner than he remembered, her face drawn with exhaustion and something that might have been shame. "I am sorry to show up unannounced," she said quietly. "Can we talk?" Damien let her in. Emma was at school and the apartment felt too quiet for the conversation he sensed was coming. Rachel sat on the edge of the couch, her hands folded in her lap. She did not look at him directly. "I don't want to take from Emma. Please believe that." "But?" Damien's voice was flat. "But Derek destroyed my life. I had to leave my job, relocate twice, pay for years of therapy just to function normally again." She pulled a folder from her bag. "Derek promised me restitution before he died. His attorney has emails confirming it." Damien took the folder. Inside