Page 27 of The Devil Goes to Washington

“Let’s proceed.” Michael was ready to walk into lavish decadence, expensive fabric strewn across the furniture without a care, as Banner opened the door across the hall.

“She didn’t change any of the decor? Where are all of her things?”

Walking into the dressing area, he found a pristine workshop. Bolts of material neatly placed in a corner next to an industrial sewing machine. Little containers of beads and thread lined the platform in the center. The clothes rack held the dress from last night, the matching shoes under it, and a drawer to the right held a few clothing items.

“This is all she will allow herself. We tried to switch out her old, threadbare nightgown, but she scolded us and took it back.”

“Thank you for the tour, it’s been illuminating.”

“Is there anything else, sir?”

“Can you show me the nanny cam footage?”

“Of course, sir. I can send the link to you also.” Looking at the live video on Banner’s phone, Michael saw the desolate mother, clutching her child as closely as she could.

“Please do.” Acknowledging the dismissal, Banner gave a nod before leaving.

His phone buzzed in his pocket as he circled the room, trying to find anything to help him make sense of Evelyn’s secrets. His eyes landed on the small writing desk and he started rifling through papers. The repeated vibration of his phone made him stop to see who was so adamantly trying to talk to him

Throwing the device on the tabletop, he sighed and ran one hand through his hair. He wasn’t sure he was ready to deal with any more of Heath’s outbursts.

Stacks of unpaid bills, overdue notices, and collection letters filled a drawer. Pulling at the next handle, he discovered a thick binder, neatly labeled with tabbed dividers of Micah’s health history. In the front pocket was an estimate for congenital heart defect surgery. The cost, without insurance, was astronomical. Even if she saved all the money from their marriage contract, she wouldn’t be able to cover it all. Especially if Micah’s hospital visits were as frequent as the documents made it appear. He watched his phone dance across the surface from the rapid pulses of Heath’s insistence, before connecting the call on the speaker.

“What the hell is so important?” Michael continued to dig in the drawer, finding a file marked ‘important papers’.

“Thought you might be ready to see reason about Evelyn.” Heath sounded calm and controlled, unlike in previous meetings.

Michael flicked through the death notices of family members until he reached the birth certificates for her and Micah.

“What the fuck?” Michael yelled.

“Yeah, I thought you would catch on to her game. How far do you think she’s run this time?” It didn’t feel so coincidental that Heath was trying to turn Michael against Evelyn at the moment he was digging for the truth.

“Micah is almost eight years old. That means Evelyn was pregnant when I had my accident.” Another secret was unveiled. The weight of them was crushing.

“Man, I told you she had something on the side. There’s your proof. Besides the pictures your dad showed you of her with another guy. I assume it's Micah's dad.” Heath could exude confidence in his statements. It made him very believable in his field of work, but Michael was having misgivings about their friendship.

“Many times, Heath.” Michael reached for a large manilla envelope marked ‘Harding.’ He poured the contents of papers and photos across the desk. The same pictures Heath had mentioned, but marked up with circles and exes.

“You had refused to see what your father and I could.” The pompous version of Heath strutted through the speaker.

Using the camera on his phone, Michael zoomed in to see the details in question.

“I’m beginning to figure that out,” he muttered.

How could he have not looked closer before? A light streak of blonde hair under a dark wig was circled. She had crossed through the tattoo she didn’t possess, to which he could attest. Even the ring was wrong. Most teenagers could do a better Photoshopping job than that.

“Heath, I don’t remember the name of the private detective my dad hired for those pictures. I was thinking maybe I should use him again since he did such a great job.”

“He...uh...I would have to look that up. I could always make another suggestion.” Michael’s dad had never explained how he got his hands on the pictures and Michael had been in too much pain and devastated to inquire. Moving to the papers, he shuffled through dozens of ominous notes. His father was threatening her over and over again if she dared to marry him.

“Weren’t you working in your dad’s office by that time? It was nice of you to help him out on these legal documents.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“A ‘cease-and-desist.’ A draft of manslaughter charges. Threats against corporations if they hired Evelyn. Do I need to go on? Because your signature is on each of these below my father’s. Even now, you’ve disparaged Evelyn at every turn. What the hell did she ever do to you?”

“She was a fucking tease,” Heath hissed.