Chapter 8 - THE CABIN IN VIRGINIA
David’s car was found at Reagan National Airport.
His passport was still at home.
His credit cards had not been used.
For eighteen hours, no one knew where he was.
Then a state trooper located a vehicle registered to Sylvia near an isolated cabin in Virginia.
The cabin belonged to David’s law partner, Marcus Dean.
Agents surrounded it before dawn.
They found David inside with three laptops, six external drives, and boxes of legal files.
He claimed he had gone there to prepare his defense.
The agents found more than a defense.
One computer contained folders labeled ANNA.
There were photographs of me sleeping.
Medical records I had never given him.
Copies of emails between my father and court officials.
Transcripts of private conversations from our bedroom.
David had been recording me for almost two years.
Another folder was labeled HALE LEVERAGE.
Inside were plans to pressure my father through me.
David had not married me without knowing who I was.
He had known from the beginning.
Agent Mendoza showed me the documents in a private hospital room.
I stared at the screen.
“He knew?”
“Yes.”
“But he called me an orphan.”
“He wanted you to believe your family connection had no value.”
My father stood beside the window.
His face looked carved from stone.
“Why target Anna?”
The agent opened a financial spreadsheet.
“David’s firm represented corporations involved in cases likely to reach the Supreme Court.”
My father turned.
“You believe he married my daughter to influence me?”
“We believe that was the original purpose.”
I felt the air leave my lungs.
Every anniversary.
Every apology.
Every promise.
All of it had been part of something older than our marriage.
Agent Mendoza continued.
“David’s firm created a private strategy group called the Jefferson Circle.”
“They collected personal information on federal judges and their families.”
“They searched for vulnerabilities.”
My father’s voice was quiet.
“Anna was mine.”
The agent nodded.
“David approached her during law school after the Circle learned who she was.”
I remembered meeting him at a legal aid fundraiser.
He had seemed kind.
Interested in my work.
Unimpressed by status.
Now I understood why.
“He never loved me.”
Elaine sat beside my bed.
“That conclusion may feel obvious right now.”
“But you do not need to answer it today.”
“I do.”
I looked at the files.
“He studied me before he spoke to me.”
“He isolated me from my father.”
“He made me ashamed of the only people who could help.”
“That was not love.”
My father closed the laptop.
“There is something else you should know.”
I looked at him.
His eyes were heavy.
“David’s firm has a case before the Court next term.”
“If these files become public, they will accuse me of conflict.”
“You could recuse yourself.”
“I will.”
“Then what are you afraid of?”
He looked toward Grace’s room.
May you like
“The Jefferson Circle did not choose David because he was the most powerful member.”
“They chose him because he was disposable.”
