Chapter 9: What Damon Signed
Nobody touched the envelope.
Judge Harris looked at Marcus.
“You wrote that?””
Marcus nodded.
“When?””
“I don't remember.””
Damon gave a bitter laugh.
“Apparently nobody remembers anything around here.””
Marcus flinched.
Keisha held the envelope between trembling fingers.
“Why was this in my purse?””
Marcus stared at her.
“I don't know.””
“That's not good enough.””
“I know.””
Damon stepped closer.
“Open it.””
Keisha looked at Judge Harris.
The judge nodded.
“Carefully.””
Keisha tore the envelope open.
Inside was a single sheet of paper.
She unfolded it.
Her eyes moved across the first line.
Then she looked at Damon.
“Oh my God.””
“What?””
She handed it to him.
Damon read it.
His face went still.
It was a statement.
Written in his handwriting.
But he didn't remember writing it.
*I saw Raymond enter the house.*
The next line:
*I saw what happened to Avery's mother.*
Then:
*I chose to protect my daughter by accepting the blame.*
Damon looked up.
“I didn't write this.””
Marcus said quietly, “You did.””
“No.””
“You wrote it before Raymond arrived.””
Damon shook his head.
“Then why don't I remember?””
“Because you asked me to make sure you forgot.””
The words landed heavily.
Damon stared at him.
“You did this to me?””
Marcus's eyes filled with tears.
“I followed your instructions.””
“Why?””
“Because you told me the truth couldn't survive if you remembered it.””
Judge Harris stepped down from the bench.
“What truth?””
Marcus looked at Monique.
She finally raised her head.
“I killed him.””
Everyone froze.
Damon stared.
“Who?””
Monique whispered, “Raymond.””
Marcus shook his head.
“No.””
“Yes.””
“No, Monique.””
“I did it.””
Avery covered her ears.
Damon moved toward his daughter.
“Keisha, take Avery.””
Keisha nodded and led Avery toward the witness area.
Judge Harris faced Monique.
“Explain.””
Monique wiped her cheeks.
“Raymond came into the house that night. He had the recording. He wanted Damon to confess to something he didn't do.””
“What did he want him to confess to?””
Monique looked at Damon.
“The death of a man named Terrence Cole.””
Damon's brow furrowed.
“Who is Terrence?””
“Raymond's brother.””
Marcus answered.
“He died two days before the night you're remembering.””
Judge Harris asked, “How?””
“An overdose,” Monique said.
Damon shook his head.
“I didn't know him.””
“You did,” Marcus said.
Damon stared at him.
“No.””
“He was the man who had been threatening Avery.””
Damon's face tightened.
Marcus continued.
“Terrence was the one making the calls. Raymond found out Damon had evidence.””
Damon looked at the recorder.
“The original recording.””
“Yes.””
“What was on it?””
Marcus hesitated.
Monique answered.
“Terrence admitting he had been following Avery.””
Avery's eyes widened.
Damon crouched beside her.
“You didn't do anything wrong.””
She nodded.
Monique continued.
“Raymond wanted the recording destroyed. Damon refused.””
“What happened next?””
“Raymond attacked him.””
Damon touched the scar near his temple.
“He hit me.””
Marcus nodded.
“Then Monique grabbed a gun.””
Judge Harris's expression changed.
“Where is the weapon?””
Monique looked down.
“Gone.””
“You said you killed Raymond.””
“I thought I did.””
Damon stared at her.
“You thought?””
Monique nodded.
“He fell.””
“Where?””
“Down the basement stairs.””
Damon suddenly grabbed the table.
Another memory struck.
A crash.
A scream.
Avery crying.
Monique shouting.
Then his own voice:
Run, Avery. Run to the neighbors.
Damon gasped.
Keisha rushed toward him.
“Damon?””
“I remember.””
Everyone stopped.
He looked at Judge Harris.
“Raymond didn't fall.””
Marcus's face went pale.
Damon continued.
“I pushed him.””
Monique shook her head.
“No.””
“I remember.””
“You were trying to save Avery.””
“I pushed him.””
Marcus stepped closer.
“And then?””
Damon closed his eyes.
“He grabbed my leg.””
His breathing became ragged.
“I fell.””
Keisha held his shoulder.
“What happened after?””
Damon looked at Avery.
“She was crying.””
Avery nodded.
“You told me to hide.””
“Yes.””
“And then?””
Damon swallowed.
“Someone else came in.””
Marcus's face changed.
“Who?””
Damon opened his eyes.
“I don't know.””
Monique whispered, “That's impossible.””
Damon stared at her.
“No.””
He looked at the envelope again.
There was something written on the back.
A date.
And beneath it, a second name.
Damon's voice dropped.
“Terrence Cole.””
Marcus shook his head.
“That's impossible. Terrence was already dead.””
Judge Harris took the paper.
“Then why is his name here?””
The courtroom doors suddenly unlocked.
Every head turned.
The handle began moving.
A man's voice came from the hallway.
“Because I wasn't dead.””
Avery screamed.
Damon stepped in front of her.
May you like
The door opened.
And Terrence Cole walked into the courtroom.
