The room smelled like fresh paint and baby lotion.
A white wooden crib stood beneath a window overlooking the backyard.
Lucas had assembled it himself.
He had complained about the instructions for three hours before proudly announcing that he had built the finest crib in the state of New York.
I had laughed at him.
Now I sat beside it, holding our daughter.
And listened as Samantha told me that Charles Baldwin and Raymond Pike were facing serious criminal charges arising from the crash.
Courtney was also facing financial fraud charges, although investigators had not established that she participated in planning the highway confrontation.
For a long time, I said nothing.
Then I whispered, “Lucas knew.”
Samantha’s voice softened.
“He knew something was wrong.”
I looked at my daughter.
“He tried to protect us.”
“Yes,” Samantha replied.
“He did.”
Chapter 10: What the Courtroom Finally Revealed
The criminal proceedings took more than a year.
