Chapter 8 - My first mistake
I made my first major mistake the night after the pediatric appointment.
Simone had gone to stay with her sister under a temporary voluntary safety arrangement.
No court order yet.
I sat alone in the kitchen after Eli went to bed.
Angry.
I opened our shared phone account.
Saw Simone’s device backups.
Then remembered she had once logged her messages onto the family iPad.
The iPad still synced.
I opened it.
Her messages appeared.
I knew I should stop.
Call my lawyer.
Tell investigators the account existed.
I did not.
I searched Eli’s name.
Then:
Marcus trip.
Then:
notebook.
I read for forty minutes.
Messages to her sister.
To a friend.
One to a parenting forum contact.
I took screenshots.
Then sent them to myself.
Only afterward did I call attorney Grace Foster.
She said:
“You accessed her private messages?”
“Shared device.”
“Were you authorized to use her account?”
“No.”
“Marcus.”
“I found things.”
“I am sure you did.”
“Can police use them?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. They should obtain records independently if relevant.”
I had just complicated an investigation involving my own son because I could not tolerate waiting.
Same control impulse.
Different person.
The irony was obvious.
May you like
I did not enjoy it.
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