Chapter Twenty-Two
Excerpt from Testimony of Dawn Sumner
Ada Olson: Were you aware of the relationship Emile had with the skaters sixteen years ago—the skaters called the Orphans?
Dawn Sumner: Well, back then, Emile was still one of them. He’d just stopped skating himself.
Ada Olson: Did you know how he intervened after Kayla Johnson was assaulted in the field?
Dawn Sumner: Of course not.
Ada Olson: And the other girls—
Dawn Sumner: I only saw them on the ice.
Ada Olson: Except the time he joined you for dinner—you and Ana Robbins.
Dawn Sumner: Yes. He came to dinner sometimes. He lived on my property. Like I said—he had just stopped skating.
Ada Olson: Were you aware that he blamed you for that?
Dawn Sumner: Emile and I coached together for over seventeen years. If he blamed me, he must have gotten over it.
Ada Olson: Or maybe he was just biding his time until he could leave and be head coach at his own facility. Until he could finally discredit The Palace and the training practices you employed.
Dawn Sumner: And how could he possibly do that? My record speaks for itself.
Ada Olson: Come on, Ms. Sumner. You know the answer. By disclosing what happened to the four Orphans of Avery Hall.