Chapter 7 - The Appeal
Ryan had not escaped from prison.
He had done something more dangerous.
He had filed an appeal.
His new attorney claimed the investigation had been influenced by Colonel Bennett’s military connections. He argued that Ryan had been denied a fair trial because officers arrived at the apartment before Emily made a formal complaint.
The argument was weak.
But it was enough to create headlines.
Emily’s photograph appeared on television again.
So did Noah’s.
Reporters waited outside the house.
Strangers argued online about whether she had exaggerated the abuse.
Then Ryan’s attorney announced that his client intended to seek parental rights if his conviction was overturned.
Emily shut off the television.
“He will never touch Noah,” James said.
Emily wanted to believe him.
That evening, Detective Maria Torres arrived with disturbing news.
“The photograph on your porch wasn’t taken by a reporter,” she said. “It was printed on private surveillance equipment.”
“Whose equipment?”
“We don’t know yet.”
Torres placed another photograph on the table.
It showed Linda entering a prison visitation room two weeks earlier.
She was supposed to be serving her sentence in a different facility.
Yet she was meeting someone.
A man Emily recognized.
Her breath caught.
“That’s Ryan’s uncle.”
James studied the image.
May you like
The man’s name was Victor Walsh.
And unlike Ryan, Victor had never been arrested.
