Chapter 3 - The Investigation Unspools
By Monday morning, the fallout from the wedding arrest had sent shockwaves through Raleigh's high society.
While Rowan was in surgery at Raleigh Memorial Hospital having her growth plate stabilized with titanium pins, Detective Marcus Vance sat across from me in a private consultation room on the pediatric floor.
Sitting beside me was Sarah Lin, a top family law and victim advocacy attorney whom Gavin had personally retained on my daughter's behalf.
Detective Vance opened a thick leather binder filled with interview transcripts, security footage, and medical records.
"Ms. Vance," Detective Vance said, his face set in a deep, dark frown. "When we executed the search warrant on Corin’s residence and reviewed her digital communications over the last six months, we discovered a pattern far worse than a single family argument."
I leaned forward, my hands clenched tightly in my lap. "What did you find?"
"Corin has a history of covert, narcissistic physical aggression targeting young girls," Detective Vance revealed, turning a page in his binder. "Four years ago, when she worked as an assistant director at a private summer day camp in Charlotte, three separate incident reports were filed regarding 'accidental' falls and scrapes among female campers under her direct supervision."
Sarah Lin interjected, her tone sharp as a razor. "Corin’s former employer settled two quiet civil claims out of court with non-disclosure agreements to protect the camp's reputation. Corin has been hiding a history of child endangerment for half a decade."
I closed my eyes, a sickening wave of horror washing over me.
All those years, I had written off Corin's subtle cruelty—the backhanded compliments, the way she made Rowan feel insecure about her hair, her clothes, her laughter—as petty sibling rivalry. I had believed she was just an arrogant, insecure younger sister.
I had never realized she was a predator who targeted vulnerable young girls because she couldn't tolerate anyone taking attention away from her.
"How is Gavin handling things?" I asked softly.
"Gavin filed for an immediate, emergency annulment on Saturday night," Attorney Sarah Lin reported cleanly. "He has executed a full restraining order prohibiting Corin from coming within one thousand feet of Fiona. And he has submitted a formal affidavit to the District Attorney confirming Fiona's statement regarding the physical abuse in the dressing room."
Detective Vance closed his binder with a heavy snap.
"Corin’s bail hearing is scheduled for tomorrow morning at the Wake County Courthouse," Detective Vance said. "The prosecutor is filing charges of Felony Child Abuse, Second-Degree Assault with a Deadly Weapon, and Witness Intimidation. She is facing up to fifteen years in state prison."
Just then, the consultation room door clicked open.
Gavin stood in the doorway, holding ten-year-old Fiona by the hand. Gavin looked exhausted, dark circles under his eyes, but his jaw was set with a firm, unshakeable resolve.
Fiona was holding a giant stuffed panda bear and a bouquet of bright yellow sunflowers.
"Naomi," Gavin spoke softly, his voice full of deep, genuine emotion. "May we see Rowan?"
I stood up from my chair, walked over to Gavin, and pulled him into a warm, fierce hug.
"She’s out of surgery, Gavin," I smiled through my tears. "She’s awake. And she’s been asking for Fiona all morning."
Fiona looked up at me, her brown eyes bright and clear, free of the fear that had shadowed her for months.
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"Is her knee okay, Ms. Naomi?" Fiona asked softly.
"She's going to heal, Fiona," I whispered, kneeling down to touch her cheek. "Thanks to you and Rowan."
