Eric stepped out of the bedroom and made his way to the study. He took a moment to sort through pending business tasks before placing a call. “Cristian.”
“Mr. Scott, how can I assist you?”
Without wasting time, Eric forwarded the audio file. “I’ve just sent you something. Give this a listen. We’ll discuss it afterward.”
“Got it.”
A short while later, Cristian returned the call. “Mr. Scott.”
“Alright. Tell me—how valuable is that recording?”
“To be honest,” Cristian paused before continuing, “it won’t qualify as primary evidence, but it could definitely help as supporting documentation. That said, if this is all we’ve got, we’ll be working with limited leverage.”
Eric’s expression darkened. “Break that down for me.”
“Here’s the problem. Yes, Linda confessed in the recording, but spoken words like that don’t hold much weight in court. If questioned formally, she could brush it off as meaningless chatter.” Since no law forbids someone from rambling in a private conversation, that defense would hold up.
Cristian then added, “Unless we can back it up with solid proof or credible witnesses to show she wasn’t just saying things to spite Hadley.”
Eric took a moment to absorb that, then gave a firm nod. “Understood. Drop by tomorrow morning and explain everything to Hadley just like you did now.”
“Will do.”
Once the call ended, Eric slipped his phone into his pocket and made his way back to the bedroom. He opened the door quietly, not wanting to disturb Hadley if she was already asleep.
He heard the gentle rustle of bedsheets—Hadley must have shifted under the covers. Eric moved toward the bed, and just before he reached her, Hadley’s voice broke the quiet. “Are you done for the night?”
“Yeah.” Eric lowered himself onto the edge of the mattress. “Did I disturb you?”
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“No…” Hadley gave a gentle shake of her head. “I just can’t fall asleep.”
Eric switched on the lamp beside the bed. The warm glow revealed Hadley gripping the blanket, her lashes low but never fully closing. Weariness clung to her face, yet rest continued to escape her. Nearly two hours had passed since Eric had stepped out.
“My eyelids feel like they’re sinking,” Hadley whispered through a yawn, fresh tears slipping down her cheeks. “But when I try to sleep, it just won’t happen.”
“Please tell me…” Hadley’s brow creased, concern coloring her words. “I used to feel like I was stuck in an endless dream. Now I can’t escape this constant wakefulness, even though I’m exhausted. Am I getting worse?”
“That’s not it.” Eric tried to hide the worry gnawing at him; the last thing he wanted was to add to her anxiety. He reached out and stroked her cheek, shaking his head. “So much has happened lately, and you’re just overwhelmed. Tell you what—remember the medication Dr. Perkins gave you to help you sleep? Maybe you should take one now.”
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