Chapter 5: The Agreement
Damon couldn't speak.
The courtroom seemed too bright.
Every sound became painfully sharp—the hum of the lights, the rustle of paper, the faint buzz of the recorder on the judge's desk.
Judge Harris looked at Marcus.
“Explain.””
Marcus swallowed.
“I can't explain everything here.””
“You will explain what you can.””
Monique shook her head.
“Marcus, please.””
He turned toward her.
“You wanted him to remember.””
“I wanted him alive.””
Damon stared at his sister-in-law.
“You wanted me alive?””
Monique covered her face.
Marcus answered.
“That was always the point.””
Damon looked at Judge Harris.
“I need to understand.””
“You will,” she said.
Then she looked at Marcus.
“Start with the night in question.””
Marcus rubbed his palms together.
“It was raining.””
Damon flinched.
Marcus noticed.
“You remember that?””
Damon shook his head.
“I remember nothing.””
“You will.””
Judge Harris's voice hardened.
“Mr. Marcus Carter, this is not a performance. If you know something about an event involving this child, you will speak plainly.””
Marcus nodded.
“Monique called me that night.””
Monique whispered, “I was scared.””
“You said Damon found out.””
Damon's eyes narrowed.
“Found out what?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Judge Harris repeated the question.
“What had Damon found out?””
Marcus looked down.
“That Avery wasn't safe.””
Damon's breathing stopped.
“What does that mean?””
Marcus glanced at the courtroom door.
“Monique had been receiving threats.””
Monique suddenly said, “No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“You were.””
“I handled it.””
“You didn't.””
Damon leaned forward.
“From whom?””
Marcus hesitated.
“Someone close to the family.””
Judge Harris asked, “Who?””
Marcus shook his head.
“I need protection before I say that.””
The judge stared at him.
“You came into my courtroom uninvited and interrupted a custody hearing. You do not get to negotiate testimony.””
Marcus lowered his eyes.
“Yes, Your Honor.””
Damon looked at Monique.
“You knew Avery was in danger?””
Monique nodded.
“I didn't know how serious it was.””
“You knew enough to call Marcus.””
“I thought he could help.””
“And instead?””
Monique began crying.
Marcus spoke quietly.
“Instead, Damon found the evidence.””
Damon's face tightened.
“What evidence?””
“A recording.””
Avery's recorder sat on the judge's desk.
Damon looked at it.
“That's the recording?””
“No.””
Marcus's answer came instantly.
“There was another one.””
Monique whispered, “Marcus.””
He ignored her.
“Damon found it hidden in the house.””
Damon closed his eyes.
A strange pressure built behind them.
A hallway.
Rain.
Avery crying.
A door slamming.
Then a voice.
His own.
Get under the stairs.
Damon opened his eyes.
“I remember.””
Everyone looked at him.
Judge Harris asked, “What do you remember?””
Damon pressed his fingers against his temple.
“I told Avery to hide.””
Avery and Keisha returned through the side door.
Avery heard him.
Her eyes widened.
“You remember?””
Damon looked at her.
“Something.””
Avery took one hesitant step forward.
“You told me not to come out.””
Damon nodded slowly.
“I did.””
Monique began shaking.
Marcus looked at her.
“You see?””
Monique whispered, “Don't.””
Damon turned toward her.
“Why did I tell Avery to hide?””
Monique's lips trembled.
“Because someone was coming.””
“Who?””
She didn't answer.
Damon looked at Marcus.
“You.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“You said you were there.””
“I was.””
“Then who came into the house?””
Marcus looked toward Avery.
“The person who wanted the recording.””
Judge Harris asked, “What recording?””
Marcus stood.
“The one that proved who was threatening Avery.””
Damon's face hardened.
“Who?””
Marcus opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, the courtroom lights flickered.
Everyone looked up.
The recorder on the judge's desk suddenly activated.
A red light blinked.
No one had touched it.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice came through the speaker.
“Marcus.””
Marcus went completely still.
The voice continued.
“You were told never to say his name.””
Damon stared at the recorder.
Judge Harris reached for it.
“Who is this?””
The voice laughed softly.
“You already know.””
The recording stopped.
Avery whispered, “That's him.””
Damon turned toward her.
“Who?””
Avery pointed at Marcus.
“No.””
Marcus's face had gone pale.
“That wasn't him.””
Damon stared at him.
“Then who was it?””
Marcus looked toward the courtroom door.
May you like
And for the first time, he looked genuinely afraid.
“He found us.””
