“The head of the police force knew us. He’d visit. He’d say it was for our protection.” There was a deep inhale. “He liked Eva better. He’d come at night, stay too long, get drunk. Then one night I came home to find them on the floor of the living room. He was forcing her, using her like an animal. It was disgusting. It was—” Her voice broke. “He bragged about it to his friends. We wanted to go to the police, but he was police! We didn’t know what to do.”

Now she leaned toward Natalie as if begging for her absolution. “You have to understand I was afraid. He was powerful. If we took it to higher authorities, surely our parents would be killed. I thought that speaking out was wrong. It wouldn’t make the rape go away, but it could cost us our family.”

She turned and looked out the windows, tears wet on her face.

Part of Natalie wanted to stop the interview, let the First Lady have some relief. She glanced at Matt, who was making a “go on” gesture with his hands.

Right.

She wasn’t here to be a friend. She was here to get the truth.

“What happened?” Natalie asked quietly.

“A deal was cut. Eva’s silence for our parents’ freedom. They were released weeks later.”

“And your parents were fine?”

“We stayed quiet. My father passed away seven years ago. My mother is in a home with dementia. None of us has spoken of this.”

“What about your sister? I’ve never read about her. Where is Eva?”

The First Lady cleared her throat. “Eva killed herself a year after my parent’s release. I found her hanging in the bathroom.”

Now Natalie felt like a voyeur.

“It wasn’t the assault that killed her,” Anita Crusoe continued quietly. “It was the silence. I took away her voice. I wouldn’t let her speak.”

“How is it that we’ve never heard this story before?” Natalie asked,softly.

The First Lady sat up straight and wiped away the wetness under her eyes. “Patrick buried it well, didn’t he? Wouldn’t do for the future First Lady to have such a sordid past. Rape. Prison. Suicide. Addiction.” She exhaled. “I loved my husband. I did. But I’ve made endless compromises for him. We’ve hidden so many things. I buried my family. Renounced my history, made myself over in an image of what he wanted me to be. Of what he believes the American people want me to be.”

“What will you do now?” Natalie asked.