Rachel leaned forward. Paul, if we back off every time wealthy people send a letter, I didn't say back off. He lowered his voice. I said, don't publish before we can prove it. Rachel sat back.
Outside the newsroom, footsteps moved through the hallway. Paul slid the letter toward her. And there's something else. At the bottom was a demand that the paper preserve all communications involving Danielle Carter, Tyler Blake, Madison Blake, Charles Blake, and Professor Miller. Rachel looked up.
They're trying to scare everyone into silence. Paul nodded. It's working. By lunchtime, Madison gave them another weapon. Her video appeared just before noon.
She sat in a softly lit room wearing almost no makeup. Her voice trembled. Her eyes were red. I've stayed quiet because I didn't want to make things worse. She began.
Danny watched from the small living room of the West End duplex. Angela stood behind the couch in her nursing scrubs, arms folded. Madison continued. I now believe Danielle Carter came to Hawthorne looking for attention and deliberately provoked my family so she could use her fighting background to become famous. Danny's stomach turned.
Madison wiped at one eye. I made mistakes. I reacted emotionally. But nobody deserves to be set up and attacked by someone with professional training. The video ended.
Angela stared at the black screen. She admitted she hit you. Not really. She said she reacted emotionally. That's close enough for people who want to hear something else.
Danny refreshed the page. Thousands of views, comments multiplying. Some defended her. Others had already accepted Madison's new version. Maybe Quiet Storm planned the whole thing.
Why would a former pro let someone slap her unless she wanted a viral moment? Seems suspicious. Danny turned the phone face down. I'm done. Angela looked at her.
With the phone? With Hawthorne, the words came out so quietly that Angela did not answer at first. Danny stood. I mean it. She walked toward her bedroom.
The suitcase was in the closet. Old, blue. The zipper stuck near one corner. Danny placed it on the bed and opened it. Angela remained in the doorway.
What are you doing? Packing. For where? I don't know yet. Danny.
My fellowship is frozen. The university thinks I'm dangerous. Their lawyers are threatening Rachel's paper. Professor Miller could lose his job for helping me. She pulled sweaters from a drawer.
I came there to study rehabilitation, Mom. Not destroy everyone who stands near me. Angela watched her fold the first sweater, then the second. You think leaving fixes that? It stops this.
No. It stops you being there to see what happens next. Danny's hands froze. That's not fair. Neither is Hawthorne. Angela stepped into the room.
You think I want you fighting a university with donor money and lawyers? I don't. Danny looked at her. Then why are you arguing? Because I know the difference between walking away and being pushed out.