You protected him instead of us. I didn’t protect him. I just—I didn’t know how to tell you. I thought maybe I could change him from the inside, make him understand.
How’s that working out? He had no answer. Khloe studied this man she had once loved like a father. Saw him clearly for the first time.
The cowardice behind the charm, the complicity behind the kindness. You have a choice right now, Raymondd. Go back in there and warn your friend. Save him. Expose me or stay silent and let me finish what I came here to do.
If you bring him down, you don’t understand. It won’t be just him. The entire network will come after you. The DA, the police chief, everyone he’s protected for 30 years.
They’ll destroy you. Let them try. You’re 19 years old, Khloe. You have no idea what these people are capable of.
I know exactly what they’re capable of. Her eyes blazed. I watched them steal 8 years of my brother’s life. I visit him every month in a psychiatric ward because of what they did to his mind.
The question isn’t what they’re capable of, Raymondd. The question is, what are you going to do? Help them destroy me, too? Raymond’s face crumbled for a long moment.
He just stood there broken, lost. I didn’t know, he finally whispered about Terrence. About Harold being his judge. I would never have stayed friends if I’d known.
But you knew what Whitmore was. You heard the stories, the complaints. You saw the patterns. And you looked away because friendship was easier than justice.
He couldn’t deny it. Wouldn’t even try. "Choose," Khloe said simply. "Right now. Your golf buddy or your conscience.
" Raymondd looked toward the courtroom door, then back at Khloe. His eyes were wet. I never should have made that call. I knew something was wrong.
Felt it in my gut. But 30 years of friendship. He trailed off. That’s not an excuse.
Nothing excuses it. He straightened his shoulders. I won’t warn him. Finish what you started. Khloe nodded.
It wasn’t forgiveness. Maybe it would never be forgiveness, but it was enough for now. She headed toward the restroom. She needed a moment alone.
Inside, her phone buzzed. From Memorial Psychiatric Hospital. Urgent. Mr. Terrence Kennedy had episode last night. Condition unstable. Please call immediately.
Her hands began to shake. Terrence. While she was here fighting, he was suffering, alone, afraid. She could walk away right now. Go to him.