Chapter 10 - THE SECOND SHOW
The studio was full again.
Different audience.
No briefing about forgiveness.
Marcus Bell opened:
“This follow-up addresses records that were not presented during our first broadcast.”
Robert looked confident.
Linda looked frightened.
Emily sat across from them.
Marcus asked Robert:
“Did police interview you four days after Emily was found?”
Robert paused.
“I don’t remember.”
Emily handed Marcus the file.
He read:
Subject denies knowledge of infant. States no children.
Audience quiet.
Robert said:
“That was twenty-five years ago.”
Emily answered:
“You remembered enough to tell me it didn’t matter.”
Then Marcus asked Linda:
“Did you know Emily survived?”
Linda whispered:
“Yes.”
Audience shifted.
Then the contract appeared.
Family continuity bonus.
Robert’s spreadsheet.
Monthly allowance.
Mortgage payoff.
Debt settlement.
Robert snapped:
“Those were private planning notes.”
Emily smiled coldly.
“Planning what?”
He turned toward her.
“What any family would do.”
“No.”
Emily leaned forward.
“A family asks what I want.”
Then the rehearsal email:
Sympathy first.
Linda closed her eyes.
Marcus asked:
“Did production encourage physical affection despite Emily’s written no-contact condition?”
Megan was not on stage.
Network counsel had advised against it.
Marcus answered himself:
“Yes. Our production failed to enforce that condition.”
That admission stunned the audience.
Then Emily turned to Linda.
“Did you hug me because you missed me?”
Linda cried.
“Yes.”
“Did the producer also tell you it would play well?”
Silence.
“Yes.”
Both true.
Emily nodded.
“Thank you.”
Not forgiveness.
Accuracy.
Then Robert stood.
“This is a circus.”
Emily looked at him.
May you like
“You brought me here.”
He froze.
