{"id":1018,"date":"2026-10-04T13:27:12","date_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:27:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/?p=1018"},"modified":"2026-10-04T13:27:12","modified_gmt":"2026-10-04T13:27:12","slug":"part-10-at-the-emergency-hearing-claire-called-the-driveway-terror-a-prank-until-her-own-deleted-messages-appeared-on-the-judges-screen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/?p=1018","title":{"rendered":"PART 10 \u2013 At the Emergency Hearing, Claire Called the Driveway Terror a \u201cPrank\u201d\u2014Until Her Own Deleted Messages Appeared on the Judge\u2019s Screen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Nathan slept for forty-three minutes.<\/p>\n<p>He knew the exact number because he checked the clock when he closed his eyes and again when Scout scratched softly at the guest-room door.<\/p>\n<p>Lily had awakened from a nightmare.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan found her sitting upright with both hands clutching the blanket.<\/p>\n<p>Scout stood beside the bed whining.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m okay,\u201d she said before Nathan asked.<\/p>\n<p>He sat on the floor near the doorway.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to be okay.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI dreamed Grandma was in the garage.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan waited.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe had the red can.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you want the light on?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He switched on the lamp.<\/p>\n<p>Lily looked around until she recognized every corner again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan you sit here?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stayed until she fell asleep.<\/p>\n<p>At seven-thirty Grace arrived with breakfast, court documents, and strict instructions that Marcus keep Lily away from television and social media.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhy?\u201d Lily asked from the kitchen table.<\/p>\n<p>Grace looked at Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>He answered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome people are talking about what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOnline?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAbout me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan wished he could lie.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lily\u2019s face tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid they see the video?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSome people may have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She pushed cereal around her bowl.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAre they laughing?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan crouched beside her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know what every stranger is saying. But none of them matter more than what actually happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat means some are laughing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus looked away.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan chose honesty.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPossibly. People sometimes behave badly when they see something online.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lily stared at the cereal.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCan I never go to school again?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s chest tightened.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are not deciding forever today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople will know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMaybe some will.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI hate Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The words came suddenly.<\/p>\n<p>Lily froze after saying them, as if expecting punishment.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan sat beside her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou are allowed to be angry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo you hate her?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He took a moment.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am extremely angry with her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s not what I asked.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace quietly gathered her papers and moved into the hallway.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan looked at his daughter.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy feelings about your mother are complicated, and they are grown-up feelings. You don\u2019t have to copy them.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lily nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI still hate her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou don\u2019t have to decide forever today either.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At eight-fifteen Nathan left for court.<\/p>\n<p>He hated leaving Lily even with Marcus and a uniformed Ridgeway officer parked discreetly at the end of the driveway.<\/p>\n<p>Lily walked him to the door.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re coming back?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat if the judge says Mom gets me?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan did not promise something he could not guarantee.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe judge is going to look at the evidence and decide what is safest right now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat means maybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Fear entered her face.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan lowered his voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will be honest with you. Courts can make decisions I don\u2019t control. But Grace and I are going to make sure the judge sees what happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lily swallowed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t want to go with Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTell the judge.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Ridgeway courthouse was a low brick building Nathan had driven past hundreds of times without entering.<\/p>\n<p>News vans were already outside.<\/p>\n<p>Grace swore when she saw them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow did they know?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan watched a camera operator turn toward their SUV.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDoes it matter?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt matters because Lily\u2019s privacy matters.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They entered through a side security entrance arranged by the prosecutor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p>Inside the courtroom, Claire sat beside two attorneys.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan had not seen her since the house.<\/p>\n<p>She wore a dark blue dress, her hair neatly tied back, no visible trace of the frantic woman demanding that police leave Briar Lane.<\/p>\n<p>She looked toward Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>He looked at Grace.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not engage,\u201d Grace whispered.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI wasn\u2019t going to.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s mother was absent because Meredith remained in custody pending an initial appearance on separate charges.<\/p>\n<p>Vanessa, Brooke and Erin were also absent under advice of counsel.<\/p>\n<p>The hearing began at nine-sixteen.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Eleanor Price entered without ceremony, reviewed the emergency filings, and looked at both attorneys.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand there are significant factual disputes and an active criminal investigation. I am not conducting the criminal trial today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s attorney stood first.<\/p>\n<p>Daniel Mercer was polished, soft-spoken, and careful.<\/p>\n<p>He described Claire as a devoted mother involved in a \u201cdeeply regrettable disciplinary incident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan kept his hands folded on the table.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer emphasized that the liquid was primarily water.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasized that no flame had been used.<\/p>\n<p>He emphasized that Lily had sustained no serious physical injury.<\/p>\n<p>He described Meredith\u2019s conduct as excessive but argued Claire had not intended physical harm.<\/p>\n<p>Then he turned toward Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cColonel Cole, understandably distressed by what he observed remotely, activated a network of police, military associates and legal resources that immediately overwhelmed my client.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan almost looked at Grace.<\/p>\n<p>She touched one finger to the table.<\/p>\n<p>Wait.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer continued.<\/p>\n<p>He argued Nathan\u2019s frequent travel made him an unstable custodial option without substantial outside support.<\/p>\n<p>He suggested Marcus\u2019s involvement proved Nathan relied on military-style associates to manage family matters.<\/p>\n<p>He claimed Claire had intended to discuss separation with Nathan after his return.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing about Oregon.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing about the forged signature.<\/p>\n<p>Nothing about the hidden recordings.<\/p>\n<p>Then Grace stood.<\/p>\n<p>She began with the driveway footage.<\/p>\n<p>Not emotion.<\/p>\n<p>Not accusation.<\/p>\n<p>Evidence.<\/p>\n<p>The courtroom monitor displayed a still image first.<\/p>\n<p>Meredith\u2019s hand in Lily\u2019s hair.<\/p>\n<p>Claire holding the phone.<\/p>\n<p>Brooke carrying the red container.<\/p>\n<p>Grace played only thirty seconds.<\/p>\n<p>Enough for the judge to hear Lily say, \u201cPlease stop. Grandma, you\u2019re hurting me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price\u2019s expression changed.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer objected to context.<\/p>\n<p>Grace stopped the video.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cContext is precisely why I have additional evidence, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She introduced the kitchen recording recovered from Claire\u2019s phone.<\/p>\n<p>Not the whole clip.<\/p>\n<p>Enough.<\/p>\n<p>Meredith shaking the matchbox.<\/p>\n<p>Brooke holding the can.<\/p>\n<p>Claire saying Lily was being dramatic.<\/p>\n<p>Lily asking to call Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>Claire refusing.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Honor, the fact that the adults intended no genuine physical harm\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price looked at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCounsel, an eight-year-old child was shown what she was told was fuel and matches?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer hesitated.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe liquid was water.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat was not my question.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan kept his face still.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer sat.<\/p>\n<p>Grace continued.<\/p>\n<p>She introduced the group messages.<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s attorney objected that discovery was incomplete.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price allowed limited use for temporary custody purposes because the records had been authenticated preliminarily through the active investigation.<\/p>\n<p>One message appeared on screen.<\/p>\n<p>Your travel schedule gives us enough time.<\/p>\n<p>Claire lowered her eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Another.<\/p>\n<p>She needs to learn that calling him does not change the consequences.<\/p>\n<p>Another.<\/p>\n<p>If she thinks he can swoop in every time, she will never come with me willingly.<\/p>\n<p>The courtroom became very quiet.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price looked toward Claire.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer whispered to his client.<\/p>\n<p>Grace displayed Claire\u2019s message to Meredith.<\/p>\n<p>I need her to stop running to him before I make the next move. If I don\u2019t break that habit first, she\u2019ll choose him.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer rose.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe now know the \u2018next move\u2019 refers to separation, Your Honor. My client was preparing for divorce, which is lawful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDivorce is lawful.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>She clicked once.<\/p>\n<p>The private school application appeared.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOregon is also lawful,\u201d Grace continued, \u201cwhen relocation is pursued transparently and through proper court process.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan saw Claire\u2019s face change.<\/p>\n<p>Grace displayed the parental acknowledgment.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price leaned forward.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhose signature is that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace turned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cColonel Cole?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt purports to be mine.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDid you sign it?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer immediately objected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAuthenticity has not been established.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace agreed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is why we are not asking the court today to determine forgery. We are asking the court to consider that an application was submitted representing paternal approval which Colonel Cole denies providing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price looked back at the document.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhen was this submitted?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEleven days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace then displayed Claire\u2019s draft message.<\/p>\n<p>By the time you read this, Lily and I will be gone.<\/p>\n<p>Claire whispered something to Mercer.<\/p>\n<p>Grace did not raise her voice.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cShe had also searched flights for herself, Lily, and Meredith two days after the driveway incident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer stood again.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo tickets were purchased.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo unlawful removal occurred.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCorrect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSo we are speculating.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace shook her head.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe are evaluating immediate safety and stability based on documented preparation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price raised one hand.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBoth of you sit.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>They did.<\/p>\n<p>The judge removed her glasses.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI want to hear about the child\u2019s current condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A child advocate testified remotely.<\/p>\n<p>She described Lily as frightened of returning home.<\/p>\n<p>She described her repeated requests to remain with Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>She carefully avoided unnecessary details but confirmed Lily had disclosed previous concealment of physical discipline and pressure to keep information from her father.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer asked whether Lily could have been influenced by Nathan after the incident.<\/p>\n<p>The advocate answered plainly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI interviewed Lily before Colonel Cole was allowed substantive private discussion of the allegations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan saw Mercer make a note.<\/p>\n<p>Then Grace introduced the voice memo.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n<p>The judge listened to only selected sections.<\/p>\n<p>Lily whispering that Claire had prohibited her from calling Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>Lily saying she had been instructed to claim she fell if there were marks.<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s voice at the end.<\/p>\n<p>You will tell him you fell.<\/p>\n<p>Claire began crying.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan did not look at her.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer requested a recess.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price denied it.<\/p>\n<p>Instead she looked directly at Claire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMrs. Cole, I am not asking you to testify without consulting counsel. But I need your attorney to address a specific concern. Why was the child being instructed in advance to provide a false explanation for injuries that had not yet occurred?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer stood slowly.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy client disputes the interpretation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe words are relatively clear.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFamily conversations can sound different when removed from emotional context.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price looked toward the monitor.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCounsel, there are contexts in which telling a child to lie about the source of future marks becomes more understandable?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer did not answer directly.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan saw the hearing shift.<\/p>\n<p>Not end.<\/p>\n<p>Not resolve.<\/p>\n<p>Shift.<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s team had entered expecting to argue that Nathan had overreacted to an unpleasant prank.<\/p>\n<p>The evidence now established planning before the incident, concealment during it, and a prepared lie afterward.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price called a brief recess.<\/p>\n<p>In the hallway, Grace pulled Nathan into a private conference room.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not assume victory.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m not.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGood.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat could happen?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cSupervised contact may still be ordered. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem. There may be evaluations.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan nodded.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs long as Lily stays with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat is what I expect, but judges dislike being treated as predictable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s phone buzzed.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus.<\/p>\n<p>LILY ASKING IF YOU\u2019RE OKAY.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan replied.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019M OKAY. TELL HER I\u2019M COMING BACK.<\/p>\n<p>A second message came.<\/p>\n<p>SHE SAYS YOU\u2019RE NOT ALLOWED TO GET DISTRACTED AND FORGET LUNCH.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan almost laughed.<\/p>\n<p>Grace looked over.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The hearing resumed.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price entered with a written temporary ruling.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan felt his pulse in his throat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBased on the evidence currently available,\u201d she began, \u201cthe emergency order granting Colonel Cole temporary sole physical custody will remain in effect.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan did not move.<\/p>\n<p>Claire covered her mouth.<\/p>\n<p>The judge continued.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMrs. Cole will have no in-person contact pending further assessment.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour Honor\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI am not finished.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He sat.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo member of Mrs. Cole\u2019s extended family involved in the incident may contact the child directly or indirectly. Colonel Cole is prohibited from removing Lily from the Commonwealth of Virginia without court permission except in a medical emergency.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan had no objection.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA guardian ad litem will be appointed immediately.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace wrote the name.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe court further orders that neither parent discuss litigation strategy, criminal charges or evidence with the child.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Again, Nathan agreed.<\/p>\n<p>Then the judge looked directly at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cColonel Cole.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYour military obligations do not disappear because of this order.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo, Your Honor.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf deployed?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will notify the court and arrange lawful care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cDo not assume temporary custody gives you unilateral authority to conceal the child or use military facilities to defeat future orders.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The judge then looked at Claire.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMrs. Cole, the child\u2019s safety and psychological stability are the priority. Whatever marital conflict existed between you and Colonel Cole, using the child\u2019s relationship with either parent as leverage will be viewed very seriously.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire began crying again.<\/p>\n<p>Judge Price adjourned.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan remained standing until she left.<\/p>\n<p>Only then did he breathe fully.<\/p>\n<p>Outside the courtroom, Mercer approached Grace but addressed Nathan.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cMy client would like to send Lily a short message.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo,\u201d Grace said.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer frowned.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe order prohibits direct contact. Counsel-mediated communication may eventually be appropriate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNot today.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire appeared behind him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Grace stepped between them.<\/p>\n<p>Claire looked exhausted now.<\/p>\n<p>Not polished.<\/p>\n<p>Not composed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNathan, please. I made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He stared at her.<\/p>\n<p>A mistake.<\/p>\n<p>The phrase felt grotesquely small.<\/p>\n<p>Claire continued before Grace could stop her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was angry. My mother pushed it too far. I didn\u2019t know she would grab Lily like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan finally spoke.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou told Lily to lie before it happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire flinched.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was trying to avoid exactly this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAll of you turning everything into a criminal case.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan looked at her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou were preparing to take her to Oregon.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire\u2019s face changed.<\/p>\n<p>Mercer said sharply, \u201cClaire.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But she was already speaking.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was going to get her somewhere stable.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWithout telling me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re never there.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan felt the words strike, but they no longer had the power Claire expected.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was there when she called.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Claire stared at him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was thirty thousand feet away, and I still saw what you did.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mercer stepped between them.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat\u2019s enough.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan agreed.<\/p>\n<p>It was.<\/p>\n<p>He left without another word.<\/p>\n<p>When he returned to Marcus\u2019s house, Lily ran from the kitchen.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan barely had time to put down his folder.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He crouched.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou stay with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Her face transformed.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor how long?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFor now. There will be more court later.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut not Mom today?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Lily wrapped her arms around him.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan closed his eyes.<\/p>\n<p>Over her shoulder, Marcus stood by the counter holding something in his hand.<\/p>\n<p>An envelope.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan noticed immediately.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Marcus\u2019s expression erased the small relief Nathan had just felt.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was in the mailbox.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom who?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo return address.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Nathan stood without releasing Lily completely.<\/p>\n<p>Marcus turned the envelope over.<\/p>\n<p>Nathan\u2019s full name had been printed across the front.<\/p>\n<p>COLONEL NATHAN COLE.<\/p>\n<p>Below it, in smaller letters:<\/p>\n<p>YOU HAVE NOT SEEN THE WHOLE VIDEO.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/?p=1019\">Click here to continue reading: PART 11: The Anonymous Envelope Contained a Memory Card From Before the Driveway\u2014And Someone in Claire\u2019s Family Was Suddenly Afraid of What Police Might Find<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nathan slept for forty-three minutes. He knew the exact number because he checked the clock when he closed his eyes and again when Scout scratched softly at the guest-room door. &hellip; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drama-sory"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1018"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1048,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1018\/revisions\/1048"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastestdrama.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}