Chapter 9: Royce
They found Royce Callum at the Henderson address Michael had provided.
Patricia told us the following morning.
She came to the house — my house, where Emily was still staying — and sat at the kitchen table with her folder open.
"He was brought in for questioning last night," she said.
"He came voluntarily, which tells you something about how confident he is.
He had his own attorney present within twenty minutes of arrival."
"What does that mean for Emily?" I asked.
"It means he's been through this before and he knows exactly how far he can push before it becomes criminal exposure." Patricia looked at Emily.
"The threat message sent to your mother's phone — his attorney is already positioning it as a miscommunication.
A third party acting without authorization."
"Someone who works for him sent it," Emily said.
"Almost certainly.
But proving the direct connection takes time." Patricia folded her hands.
"Here's what we have right now that is solid.
The document with Jake's signature.
Michael's recordings.
The bracelet, which forensics has confirmed was manufactured by a medical supply company — the same type used in a Nevada hospital where Royce has a documented connection through one of his LLCs."
Emily looked up.
"He had it made to look like a real hospital bracelet."
"Yes.
Which elevates the threat charge significantly.
This wasn't someone writing a note.
This was a planned, staged intimidation designed to cause fear of physical harm." Patricia paused.
"The DA's office is involved now.
This is no longer just a civil matter."
"And Jake?"
Patricia was quiet for a moment.
"Jake is cooperating.
His attorney negotiated a cooperation agreement this morning.
He'll provide full testimony about the loan, the signing, the communications with Royce.
In exchange, the DA is considering a reduced charge — likely a financial misconduct misdemeanor rather than a felony, depending on what his testimony produces."
Emily absorbed this.
"He gets a reduced charge," she said.
"Possibly.
It's not guaranteed.
And it doesn't affect your civil case against him.
Those are separate proceedings."
"Patricia." Emily looked at her directly.
"What happens to Royce?"
Patricia held her gaze.
"If the recordings are admitted and the bracelet evidence holds, he's looking at criminal threat charges, extortion, and potentially racketeering given the pattern from those prior civil cases." She paused.
"His attorney will fight every step.
This will not be quick."
"But it moves forward."
"It moves forward."
Emily nodded slowly.
Outside, a car passed on the street.
A dog barked somewhere down the block.
The ordinary sounds of an ordinary morning.
"I want to ask you something," Emily said.
"And I want a real answer, not a careful one."
"All right."
"Is my baby safe?"
Patricia didn't hesitate.
"Yes.
The protective order is in place.
Royce is under active investigation and any contact with you or your family would accelerate his charges significantly.
His attorney has already advised him of this — I've been told as much through back channels." She paused.
"He's not going to risk a federal charge over a debt he can no longer collect."
Emily let out a slow breath.
It was the first time in two days I'd seen her shoulders drop.
"Okay," she said.
"Then let's talk about what I need to do next."
They talked for another hour.
Documents to sign.
A deposition date.
The name of a family therapist Patricia recommended for the weeks ahead.
When Patricia left, Emily stood at the front door and watched her car pull away.
Then she turned to me.
"I need to go back to the house," she said.
"My house.
I need to get some things."
"I'll come with you."
"I know." She almost smiled.
"I wasn't going to ask you not to."
We drove over together.
The house was quiet — Jake was staying with a colleague, per Patricia's arrangement.
Emily moved through the rooms methodically.
Books.
Clothes.
A small wooden box from the top shelf of the closet that she didn't open in front of me.
She stopped in the doorway of the nursery.
The walls were pale yellow.
A white crib in the corner.
A mobile with small paper stars hanging above it.
She stood there for a long moment.
"I still like the color," she said finally.
"It's a good color."
May you like
She reached up and set the mobile spinning gently.
Then she picked up her bag and walked back down the hall.
