Everyone Rejected the Crippled Girl — Until She Sat With a Hell’s Angel
Stone remembered grabbing Derek by the collar, shoving him toward the door. He’d done it to protect Ember. Now it might cost them everything.
«Can he really do this?»
«He can try. And if the judge believes him, it could undermine our whole case. Defense will argue you’re a violent criminal with a vendetta, that you manufactured evidence, that Ember was coached.»
«She wasn’t coached. Everything she said was true.»
«I believe you, but belief isn’t evidence.»
Stone took a breath. «Then let me give you evidence. Derek poisoned his wife.»
Silence. «What?»
«Lisa Manning. Eight months ago. Officially died of cancer, but I have a witness who says Derek was giving her something. Tea every night. She got sick right after she tried to leave him. A social worker filed a report that got buried by a CPS caseworker who’s been covering for Derek.»
«Stone, that’s… that’s a lot of accusations.»
«I have a name. Sarah Chen. She’ll testify. And I need you to subpoena Lisa Manning’s medical records. And I need you to consider an exhumation.»
«Exhumation? Do you have any idea how hard that is to…»
«Derek is going to walk in two days unless we stop him. If he walks, Ember goes back into a system that’s been protecting him. She’ll disappear. And the next time anyone sees her, it’ll be at her funeral.»
Martinez was quiet. «You really believe this?»
«I know this. In my gut. Derek Manning is a murderer. He killed his wife. He crippled his stepdaughter. And if we don’t stop him now, he’s going to kill again.»
A long pause. «I’ll make some calls. But Stone, I need you to stay out of this until the hearing. No contact with Derek. No contact with witnesses. No more cowboy justice. Can you do that?»
«Yeah. I mean it. One more incident, and the whole case falls apart.»
«I understand.»
«Good. I’ll call you tonight.» She hung up.
Stone stood there, phone in his hand, mind racing. Two days. Two days to prove a murder that happened eight months ago. Two days to expose a corrupt system. Two days to save a little girl from a monster.
His phone buzzed. A text from Brick. Lisa Manning was cremated. No body to exhume. Derek requested it three days after she died.
Stone’s heart sank. Of course Derek had destroyed the evidence. He was smart, careful. He’d planned this from the beginning.
Another text from Brick. But there might be something else. Hospital kept blood samples. Standard procedure for cancer patients. If there’s poison in her system, it might still show up.
Stone felt hope flicker back to life. Can Martinez get them?
She’ll need a warrant. And a judge who doesn’t ask too many questions. Can you make that happen?
A pause. Then: I know a guy. But Stone, this is going to cost us.
I don’t care.
I mean, really cost us. Favors we can’t take back. Doors that might close forever.
I don’t care.
Another pause. Okay. I’ll make it happen.
Thank you.
Don’t thank me yet. Thank me when we win.
Stone put his phone away. He walked back to the porch. Ember was still drawing. She’d covered three pages with pictures. Houses with smoke coming from chimneys. Trees with bright green leaves. A motorcycle that looked like Stone’s.
And in every picture, the same two figures. A big man with dark hair. A small girl with one leg. Together.
«What are you drawing?» Stone asked.
«Us,» Ember said. «I’m drawing what I want to happen.»
«What do you want to happen?»
She looked up at him with those big serious eyes. «I want to stay with you forever. I want Derek to go away and never come back. I want to have a room with a window that isn’t painted black. I want to eat breakfast every day and go to school and have friends.» Her voice dropped. «I want to be normal. Like other kids.»
Stone sat down beside her on the porch swing. «You know what I think?»
«What?»
«I think normal is overrated. I think the best people I’ve ever known are the ones who have been through hard things and came out the other side. They’re stronger. Kinder. They understand things that normal people never will.»
«Like what?»
«Like how important it is to be there for someone. Like how much a hot meal matters when you haven’t eaten in days. Like how a single act of kindness can change a person’s whole life.»
Ember was quiet. «Is that what happened to you?»
«What do you mean?»
«Did someone do something kind for you when things were hard?»
Stone thought about Afghanistan. About the brothers who’d pulled him back from the edge when he came home broken. About the club that had given him a family when his own had given up on him.
«Yeah,» he said. «Someone did.»
«Who?»
«A lot of people, actually. That’s the thing about kindness, Ember. It spreads. Someone helps you, and then you help someone else, and it just keeps going.»
«Like dominoes.»
«Yeah. Like dominoes.»
She picked up her crayon and started drawing again. «Stone?»
«Yeah?»
«When this is over… can I call you something else?»
«Like what?»
She didn’t answer right away. Just kept drawing. Then, very quietly: «Dad.»
Stone couldn’t breathe. «You want to call me Dad?»
«Only if it’s okay. I know you’re not my real dad. My real dad left before I was born. But you’re more like it now than anyone I’ve ever had. You make me food. You keep me safe. You don’t hit me or lock me up or tell me I’m worthless.» Her voice cracked. «That’s what dads are supposed to do, right?»
Stone’s eyes burned. «Yeah,» he managed. «That’s what dads are supposed to do.»
«So… can I?»
He pulled her into his arms. «Yeah, Ember. You can call me Dad.»
She hugged him back, her small arms barely reaching around his chest. «I love you, Dad.»
Three words. Three words that rewired everything inside him. «I love you too, kid.»
They sat there on the porch holding on to each other while the sun started to set. Somewhere out there, Derek was plotting. Somewhere out there, a corrupt system was trying to protect him. But right here, right now, a little girl had found her father. And Stone had found something worth fighting for.
Whatever came next, he was ready. They both were.
The courthouse was packed. Stone arrived at 8:30 a.m. with Ember holding his hand. She was wearing a new dress that Marie from the diner had bought her. Purple, her favorite color. Her hair was brushed and braided, courtesy of Tommy’s wife. She looked like a normal kid.
But her grip on Stone’s hand was anything but normal. Tight. Desperate. Like she was afraid he’d disappear if she let go.
«I’m scared,» she whispered.
«I know. But I’m right here.»
«What if the judge believes Derek?»
«He won’t.»
«But what if he does?»
Stone knelt down to her level. «Ember, look at me.»
She looked.
«Whatever happens in that courtroom today, you’re not going back to him. I don’t care what any judge says. I don’t care what any lawyer argues. You’re my daughter now, and nobody takes you from me. Understand?»
Her eyes filled with tears. «I understand.»
«Good. Now let’s go show them what the truth looks like.»
They walked into the courthouse together. Brick was waiting in the lobby with six other brothers, all of them in leather vests, all of them looking like they’d walked out of a nightmare. The security guards at the metal detector exchanged nervous glances.
«We’re here as observers,» Brick said calmly. «No weapons. No trouble. Just observers.»
The guards didn’t argue. They passed through security and headed for Courtroom 4B.
ADA Martinez was already inside, spreading papers across her table. She looked up when Stone entered.
«We got them,» she said quietly.
«The blood samples?»
«Came back this morning. Thallium poisoning. Lisa Manning didn’t die of cancer. She was murdered.»
Stone felt something loosen in his chest.
«Derek?»
«We’re adding murder charges. First-degree. Along with the attempted murder of Ember, the abuse, the fraud. He’s going away, Stone. For the rest of his life.»
«Does he know?»
«Not yet. His lawyer thinks this is still just a dismissal hearing.» Martinez smiled. It wasn’t a nice smile. «He’s about to have a very bad day.»
The courtroom filled up. Sarah Chen arrived, looking nervous but determined. She took a seat behind the prosecution table. The neighbors from Maple Street came too. Mrs. Patterson with her folder of photographs. Mr. Reeves with his statement about the truck backing up. Two other women Stone didn’t recognize.
And then the door at the back opened. Derek walked in. He was wearing a suit, hair combed, face clean-shaven, looking every inch the respectable citizen. His eyes swept the courtroom. They landed on Ember. He smiled.
Ember whimpered and pressed closer to Stone.
«Don’t look at him,» Stone murmured. «He can’t touch you.»
«He’s looking at me like he’s going to kill me.»
«He’s never going to get the chance.»
Derek took his seat at the defense table. His lawyer, a slick man in a designer suit, leaned over and whispered something. Derek nodded, still smiling, confident. He had no idea what was coming.
«All rise,» the bailiff announced. «The Honorable Judge Rebecca Torres presiding.»
Everyone stood. Judge Torres entered. Mid-fifties, steel-gray hair, eyes that had seen every lie ever told in a courtroom.
«Be seated.»
Everyone sat.
«This is Case Number 2024-CF-4471, State of Colorado versus Derek Manning. We’re here on the defense’s motion to dismiss. Mr. Hartley, you may proceed.»
Derek’s lawyer stood up. «Your Honor, my client has been the victim of a coordinated campaign of harassment and defamation. The so-called evidence in this case was obtained through illegal means by individuals with criminal records who broke into my client’s home without a warrant. The primary witness is a six-year-old child who has been coached by these same individuals to fabricate stories of abuse.»
Stone’s hands curled into fists. Brick put a hand on his shoulder. «Easy.»
«Furthermore,» Hartley continued, «my client was physically assaulted by one of these individuals. He has witnesses who will testify to this assault. We ask that all charges be dismissed and that Mr. McKenna be charged with battery.»
Judge Torres looked unimpressed. «Is that all?»
«Yes, Your Honor.»
«Ms. Martinez?»
Martinez stood up slowly. «Your Honor, I’d like to respond to the defense’s claims with some new evidence that has come to light.»
Hartley’s smile flickered. «Objection. This is a dismissal hearing, not a trial. New evidence should be…»
«I’ll allow it,» Judge Torres said. «Proceed, Ms. Martinez.»
Martinez picked up a folder. «Your Honor, this morning, I received the results of a toxicology analysis performed on blood samples taken from Lisa Manning eight months ago during her hospitalization. Lisa Manning was Derek Manning’s wife and the biological mother of Ember Manning.»
She handed a copy to the judge and another to Hartley.
«The analysis revealed lethal levels of thallium sulfate in Mrs. Manning’s blood. Thallium is a poison that mimics the symptoms of cancer: hair loss, nausea, organ failure. Mrs. Manning didn’t die of cancer. Your Honor, she was murdered.»
The courtroom erupted. Derek’s face went white. Hartley was on his feet.
«Objection! This is outrageous! This evidence was obtained without proper…»
«The samples were obtained legally,» Martinez cut in. «They were stored at Providence Hospital as part of standard cancer treatment protocol. I obtained a warrant yesterday afternoon.»
Judge Torres banged her gavel. «Order! I will have order in this courtroom!»
The noise subsided. Torres looked at the toxicology report for a long moment. Then she looked at Derek.
«Mr. Manning, do you understand the implications of this evidence?»
Derek was shaking. «Your Honor, I don’t… I had nothing to do with… this is a mistake. Someone’s framing me.»
«A mistake,» Torres repeated. «Let’s see what else might be a mistake.» She nodded at Martinez.
«Your Honor, I’d like to call Sarah Chen to the stand.»
Sarah walked forward. Her hands were trembling, but her voice was steady as she took the oath.
Martinez approached her. «Ms. Chen, what is your profession?»
«I’m a social worker at Providence Hospital.»
«And did you know Lisa Manning?»
«Yes. She was my friend. We grew up together.»
«Can you describe the last time you saw her?»
Sarah’s voice wavered. «It was about two weeks before she was hospitalized. She called me crying. She said Derek had been acting strange. She said she was scared. She said she’d found a receipt for something she didn’t understand.»
«What kind of receipt?»
«A chemical. She didn’t know what it was for, but she said Derek had been making her tea every night. Tea that tasted strange. She said she didn’t want to drink it, but he got angry when she refused.»
Martinez held up a photograph. «Ms. Chen, do you recognize this?»
Sarah looked at it. Her face paled. «That’s thallium sulfate. That’s what the receipt was for.»
«And what happened after Lisa told you this?»
«I filed a report with CPS. I documented everything she told me. Dates, times, symptoms. I begged them to investigate.»
«And did they?»
«The case was assigned to a worker named Thomas Reed. He told me the investigation was closed. He said Lisa had recanted.»
«Had she?»
«No. I spoke to her the day before Reed said she recanted. She was more afraid than ever. She was planning to leave. And then she fell down the stairs.»
Martinez turned to the judge. «Your Honor, we have evidence that Thomas Reed, a CPS caseworker, has been systematically covering up reports of abuse involving Derek Manning. Reed closed two separate investigations into the Manning household. He also signed off on a home inspection that failed to note a padlocked refrigerator, locked cabinets, and a room with a deadbolt on the outside of the door.»
Torres’s expression hardened. «Where is Mr. Reed now?»
«In federal custody. He was arrested this morning on charges of obstruction of justice and conspiracy.»
Another wave of murmurs through the courtroom. Derek was sweating now. His confident smile had vanished completely. Hartley was frantically scribbling notes, his face the color of old cheese.
Martinez turned back to Sarah. «One more question, Ms. Chen. In your professional opinion, what was Derek Manning’s intention toward his wife?»
Sarah looked directly at Derek. «He wanted her dead. He poisoned her slowly so no one would suspect. He isolated her from friends and family. He made sure there were no witnesses. And when she tried to leave, he escalated.»
«And what about Ember? What was his intention toward her?»
«The same thing. He ran over her with his truck to cripple her. He starved her to weaken her. He was waiting for the right moment to finish what he started.»
«Thank you, Ms. Chen. No further questions.»
Torres looked at Hartley. «Does the defense wish to cross-examine?»
Hartley stood up slowly. He looked at Derek. Derek looked at him. Something passed between them.
«No, Your Honor. No questions.» He sat back down.
Torres nodded. «Ms. Martinez, call your next witness.»
«The People call Ember Manning.»
Stone felt Ember’s hand tighten on his. «I have to,» she whispered.
«You’re the bravest person I know,» he whispered back. «You can do this.»
She stood up. She picked up her crutches. She made her way to the witness stand.
Tap, scrape, tap, scrape.
The whole courtroom watched. Derek watched. His eyes followed her every movement. Ember didn’t look at him. She looked at Stone. He nodded. I’m here. You’ve got this.
