Chapter 6 - The Media Defraction
By the next morning, my parents had launched their counter-attack through the local news channels. My mother sat on a morning talk show sofa, dabbing her eyes with a lace handkerchief while a sensationalized headline flashed across the screen: “LOCAL COUNCILDOM FIGHTS TO SAVE ORPHAN FROM UNSTABLE CAPTOR.”
"We just want our daughter back," my mother sobbed to the camera, her performance flawless. "Emily has always struggled with reality. She cut us off completely after we expressed concern about her ability to manage such a severe medical case. Councilman Westbrook has kindly offered to provide top-tier institutional care for the poor boy, but Emily is keeping him barricaded inside that house for money."
My father nodded solemnly beside her. "We are heartbroken. We tried to give her an ultimatum at Christmas to wake her up, but she has completely lost her sense of family."
I watched the broadcast from the estate kitchen, my fingers tight around my coffee mug.
"They're trying to control the public narrative before we can present the federal indictment," Arthur said, walking in with a stack of legal briefs. "The local court of public opinion can be dangerous, Emily. If the public thinks you're a kidnapper, it gives the local police a reason to act rashly."
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"Then we don't let them control it," I said, setting my mug down. "Arthur, can you set up a live broadcast from the foyer of this house? I want to give my mother the public response she’s been begging for."
Noah walked into the kitchen, carrying his notebook. He had drawn a picture of a massive, shining key opening a heavy iron padlock. Beneath the drawing, for the very first time since I met him, he had written three actual words in neat, shaky print: I WANT TO SHOW.
