Cut Too Deep (53 page)

Three days later, as Hadley changed into her pointe shoes on a bench outside the ballet studio, she lifted her head to a face she recognized. Her old friend looked more feminine and mature than she remembered. A few nights ago, she wondered if Laura would turn up. Dancing for the ballet was a dream they both once shared. Nerves swirled around in her belly. She was mortified and thrilled. Wordlessly, she smiled and waited.

“Hadley, it is you. When I saw the name, I hoped…but the last name was different.” Laura’s eyes filled with tears. Hadley still couldn’t speak and she began to tear up as well. “I wanted to call you. I begged my parents.” She sat on the bench next to Hadley and spoke quietly. “I saw the news. I know it was you who turned that guardian in. I recognized his name. It’s why you tried to kill yourself, isn’t it?” Hadley could only nod. If she spoke, she would never be able to stop the river of tears threatening to burst open like a dam. “I’m so sorry. I should’ve known.”

Hadley shook her head.

“No, Laura, no.”

“I remember you crying for hours when he brought you home. I thought it was because you were in trouble, but it wasn’t. I feel awful for not helping you.”

Hadley hugged her, remembering a time they were as close as any blood-related sisters.

“Please don’t. That man hurt so many people. You were a kid, Laura, and couldn’t have known what he did.” Most adults didn’t think about such hideous crimes, let alone children. “I don’t want you to cry. He’s going away for a long time and can’t hurt me anymore.”

Laura wiped her tears.

“I’m happy you didn’t give up dancing. You’re talented and you deserve this.” The momentary air of silence allowed Hadley to catch her breath before Laura continued. “I’d really like to be friends again, Hadley. I’ve missed you.”

Hadley smiled.

“Of course. I’d like that very much. I missed you, too.”

Laura showed Hadley around the studio and gave her a few useful pointers. Before long, they fell back into a comfortable way they always shared, as though years hadn’t distanced their friendship. For Hadley, life was granting one miracle after the other and she refused to question the reasons.

In the months leading up to the trial, Hadley was swamped. She spent close to eight hours, four days a week at the ballet preparing for Opening Night, which was set for December second. On most days, if not for Regina taking pleasure in keeping her fed, she would’ve forgotten to eat. Hadley shared her story with Regina once it was public. The women bonded as Regina shared the high rate of sex crimes in her home country and how she had known many girls who suffered as Hadley had, although none courageous enough to speak out.

When Hadley wasn’t dancing for work, she trained her replacement for her job at Jensen. After two straight days interviewing dozens of candidates, she and Paul finally agreed Mac should take her place. He was more than qualified and had a good relationship with his co-workers, other than Tosser, who quit after the news was announced. Paul didn’t like that he lost Hadley as an employee, but knew she belonged on a stage, and Mac excelled in the position.

She met with Sophia Harper once a week. On her last visit, attorneys for the state of New York were present. They assumed Hadley would be suing the state soon and requested a formal meeting. She listened to her attorney’s advice, but declined to file a lawsuit. She didn’t blame the state of New York, her relatives, Miller, or herself anymore. The only compensation she wished to garner was witnessing Harold Duwatski be held accountable.

Miller and Hadley ate dinner with his family at least one night a week. Miller’s uncles considered her their niece, and she had grown to love Adele and Katherine. Having female friends to trust and confide in was wonderful. Adele and Mac remained in the friend-zone, but Hadley could see a hint of something between them when they shared a glance or smiled at each other. It was Vito, remarkably, that Hadley had grown the closest to. They often played poker. Evidently Hadley inherited her father’s love of card playing, although Vito pointed out she was actually good at it.

Her relationship with both Valentina and Sascha continued to improve and grow. Hadley loved having the two women in her life. In addition to her grandmothers, she’d grown extremely close to Miller’s mother. Hadley loved she could talk to Noemi openly and about anything, much in the way she imagined she would be able to speak to her own mother.

Don McAllister remained a constant in her life. They met for lunch weekly and spoke on the phone every couple of days. What once felt odd thinking of him as a father, now brought her comfort. In her mind, Don was her father. Don felt the same about Hadley. After the gruesome way in which he found Hadley as a small child, he fell apart emotionally and drank excessively. His wife left him and he never had any children, other than an eight-year-old girl he watched grow up, and he was proud beyond belief of the strong woman she’d become.

Her relationship with Miller had come the furthest. When she thought back to the days she refused to speak to him, she didn’t recognize that girl. All those months ago were a distant memory. His sexual prowess once terrified her, now she welcomed that side of him. In those moments lost to his sensual touch, there was no greater expression of love or lust.

B
arbara Duwatski sat in a small booth, separated from her husband by a pane of glass. She held a phone to her ear. The sight of him made her want to vomit. The man she shared a bed with for nearly thirty years was a monster.

Harold picked up the phone and said hello to his wife. Barbara was the only woman he ever loved, but she hadn’t been able to change his dark inner desires. Her pale skin and dark circles under her eyes showed him how much he’d hurt her.

“I’m glad you came. I love you, Barbara.”

She stared icily at her husband.

“Don’t,” Barbara said sternly. “Don’t pretend to be the man I fell in love with. That man is dead. I don’t even know who you are.”

That cut Harold deeply.

“Then why are you here?”

“I know the truth.”

He still believed he could get out of this mess and reconcile with his wife. Harold was making plans.

“You don’t know anything.”

“I know everything and I hate myself. I didn’t want to believe it. For years, I thought you were having an affair, the large withdrawals from our savings, the hotel receipts. I chose to ignore it, but now this…you did everything you’re charged with. I hate you.”

“Please, don’t say that. I’ll do anything.”

His desperation gave Barbara hope he would listen to her. She was fragile. The idea of hearing every detail at trial had been causing nightmares and migraines. What he did to a child, ruining a life, she would never forgive herself for not questioning him. She knew Hadley’s father personally, and Vitale loved his little girl.

“The police think her father sold her to you. I know that isn’t true. I was there, remember?”

Harold cursed Vitale under his breath. A man he knew better than the police realized. The Duwatski’s had him to dinner many times, to discuss some changes Vitale hoped to make in his life. Harold felt like he was being backed into a corner.

“I can’t change that.”

“You can, and if you ever loved me at all, you’ll do two things for me.”

“What?”

“Change your plea, for starters. I can’t do it. I won’t survive this trial. I can’t leave the house as it is, and I had to quit my job. Before the trial starts tomorrow, tell them you’re guilty. End this.”

Harold would have to speak to his attorney before he could agree. He had other plans and would have to make sure a guilty plea wouldn’t change them. Tears were cascading down his wife’s cheeks, crushing him.

“What else?”

“Tell that girl the truth about her father.”

“Why should I? She’s the reason I’m in here. I don’t owe her anything.”

“Do you hear yourself? You’re breaking my heart. If not for her, then for me? Have mercy on me, Harold. Please, if I ever meant anything to you, do as I asked. End this nightmare for me.”

Barbara slammed the phone into the cradle and stormed away from her husband. Harold watched his wife leave and, for a moment, almost cried. He had a lot to think about.

Outside of the courthouse was a zoo, filled with media and curious spectators. Cool wind whipped through Hadley’s long hair as she climbed the stairs sandwiched between Antonio and Armonno. She clutched the lapels of her wool coat and went through the door Miller opened. The courtroom itself was organized, but loud. A few instructions from the bailiff quieted the room.

Duwatski sat with his attorney, clean shaven and wearing a suit. He had lost weight. His eye sockets were rimmed in black from lack of sleep. The impending trial had taken a toll on him.  Behind the prosecution’s side, Sophia, Miller, and Hadley took their seats. Spread out in the courtroom were the rest of Hadley’s family and friends, most of the Lorinos included. Mac and Adele sat next to Valentina and Sascha. Mrs. St. Armont sat directly behind Hadley, silently spitting hatred in Creole at a vicious man. Hadley avoided eye contact with Duwatski while Miller stared forebodingly at her former guardian.

Hadley tried hard not to worry about taking the stand to testify. She had spent many hours with Sophia, mocking up scenarios. Duwatski’s attorney would ask if she killed her father. The truth would never be discovered. Hadley loved Miller’s family and refused to implicate Miller or the Lorinos. As a matter of record, Hadley killed her father in self-defense and that is how it would remain.

Once the judge was introduced, everyone sat and waited as the clerk handled a few formalities. Duwatski’s attorney stood and made a shocking announcement. The courtroom buzzed. The judge instructed Duwatski to stand. Hadley’s jaw dropped. Sophia whispered in her ear, but it was too loud to hear her. The judge pounded his gavel and yelled for everyone to be quiet.

“Mr. Duwatski. Is what you’re attorney says accurate?”

“Yes, Your Honor.” Harold turned and held the gaze of his beautiful wife. A woman he’d hurt dearly. He whispered, “I’m doing this for you. I do love you.” Harold turned back to the judge and stood tall. “I want to change my plea to guilty.”

The court room erupted again with chatter. The judge slammed his gavel. “Quiet,” he yelled. “Mr. Duwatski, do you understand all of the charges against you?”

“I do, Your Honor.”

“Very well, I will see you back in this courtroom two weeks from today for sentencing.”

Hadley and her family left the courtroom with an overwhelming since of relief. None of them would have to live through a painful and lengthy trial. Hadley didn’t know specifically why her former guardian changed his plea. There was something in the way Duwatski looked at his wife that made Hadley think he cared enough about the woman he shared a life with to save her from the gory details.