So true. We have had the same concerns. I saw an ADT truck (alarm systems) up by GR's house a few weeks ago. I worry because of the kids being in the middle of everything. The party I referred to GR/ES attending together, they didn't have a very warm welcome. Those kids must have had to deal with GR's anger all the way home, I am sure - jmo, but I can only imagine how he is acting at home - he has been a little short with them when at other functions.
I was having nightmares imagining him being pushed too far - getting backed into a corner. I wonder if OR has similar concerns, wouldn't that make some sense of the silence? IMO
The silence of the LE can be looked at as a possible psychological tactic of conscience.
I liken it to an analogy of a kid that steals a dollar one day at school...
Despite the fact that he may know that stealing is wrong, he steals it and spends it (i.e. getting rid of the evidence).
Let's say that he bought a Matchbox car or a yo-yo with that dollar. That will then be a constant reminder to him that he stole that dollar, and spent it.
The guilt of that could lead him to confess... but let's say he doesn't feel any remorse whatsoever.
To throw suspicion off of him, he may accuse someone else of stealing it, or possibly even say it's the victim's fault that their dollar was stolen in the first place.
Let's say the teacher goes up to the front of the class and says "Someone stole 'So and So's' dollar," then just leaves it at that. No mention that she's going to find out why it was stolen, who stole it, where it was stolen, etc.
Perhaps the teacher remains silent because she doesn't want to come across as accusing, but mentions it in a broad sense saying that there's a potential that it's someone in the classroom.
Perhaps she remains silent, but knows who did it, or has a general idea of who did it, but doesn't have the necessary proof.
Perhaps she remains silent, knowing that eventually either the person that stole it will come forward out of guilt, or they'll do something that will implicate their guilt.
Perhaps she remains silent because she wants the culprit to think of the unspoken potentiality (i.e. her finding out why it was stolen, who stole it, where it was stolen, etc.) that she'll eventually find out, and they'll be in trouble.
It'll lead to paranoia, and perhaps either a break down, or a confession. If not out of remorse for the crime, out of remorse of themselves for discomfort the paranoia brought, or the fact that their reputation is ruined.
Let's say that the little boy had an accomplice, or accomplices that benefited from him having stolen and spent that dollar.
That's the potentiality of one or more people to tell the teacher who the culprit is.
That'll further contribute to the paranoia of the culprit. Not only is he then contending with the possibility of being found out, but the potentiality that his co-conspirators may bring proof against him, or themselves may crack under the pressure, and implicate him.