Chapter 5 - The First ArrestNathan was arrested the next morning.
His mother was arrested two hours later.
Then his brother.
Then another family member.
The news spread quickly.
The same people who had laughed in that house suddenly discovered consequences.
Reporters arrived outside the hospital.
I refused interviews.
But one reporter managed to ask:
“Mr. Hale, are you satisfied?”
I stopped.
“No.”
She looked surprised.
“Why not?”
“Because my daughter is still in a hospital bed.”
“What do you want?”
“Justice.”
She asked:
“Do you want revenge?”
I looked directly into the camera.
“No.”
Then I walked away.
Inside the hospital, Claire watched the news.
“Dad?”
“Yes?”
“They're scared.”
“Good.”
She frowned.
“Is that wrong?”
“No.”
I sat beside her.
“Being afraid of consequences is not the same as being afraid of justice.”
She thought about that.
Then she smiled weakly.
“You sound like a soldier.”
“I am one.”
She laughed.
It hurt her jaw.
So she stopped.
May you like
I smiled.
“Rest.”
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