Chapter 3 - THE CHILD’S TESTIMONY
The police station smelled like burnt coffee and wet coats.
I sat in an interview room with my wrists cuffed to a metal ring on the table.
Detective Mara Ellis entered twenty minutes later.
She was in her early forties, with tired eyes and a voice that revealed nothing.
She placed a recorder between us.
“Renata Cole says you assaulted her.”
“She was burning Lily.”
“She says the child moved unexpectedly.”
“She held the iron against her scalp.”
Detective Ellis watched my face.
“Did you strike Miss Cole?”
“I slammed into her to get her away from Lily.”
“So you admit using force.”
“Yes.”
“I would do it again.”
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then I reached into my pocket.
The arresting officer had allowed me to keep the folded paper after checking it for contraband.
I placed Lily’s drawing on the table.
Detective Ellis studied it.
“Did you make this?”
“No.”
“Lily threw it to me while they were taking me outside.”
“She does not speak.”
“She writes.”
“She draws.”
“And she has been trying to tell people what is happening without saying a word.”
Detective Ellis leaned back.
“Why would Renata Cole hurt her?”
“I don’t know.”
“But Lily is terrified of her.”
I told her about the flinching.
I told her about the threats.
I told her how Renata had known about my mother’s dialysis.
I told her the hallway cameras had conveniently stopped working before the incident.
Detective Ellis listened without interrupting.
Then the door opened.
A uniformed officer whispered something to her.
She left the room.
When she returned, she was carrying a clear evidence bag.
Inside it was the curling iron.
“We had a paramedic examine the child,” she said.
“There is a fresh thermal injury near her scalp.”
My throat tightened.
“How bad?”
“Minor physically.”
“Psychologically, I cannot say.”
“Will Grant finally believe me?”
“That depends on what he wants to believe.”
She placed another photograph on the table.
It showed bruising on Renata’s arm.
“This supports her claim that you assaulted her.”
“She was hurting a child.”
“I understand your position.”
“But justification is a legal question.”
The door opened again.
This time, a man in an expensive gray suit entered.
He introduced himself as Martin Hales, attorney for the Callahan family.
He did not sit.
“Mr. Callahan is willing to avoid pressing charges if Ms. Brooks signs a confidentiality agreement.”
Detective Ellis stared at him.
“That was fast.”
Martin ignored her.
He placed a document in front of me.
The agreement required me to admit that I had misunderstood the situation.
It prohibited me from discussing Lily, Renata, Grant, or anything I had witnessed inside the estate.
In return, Renata would withdraw her complaint.
I looked at the signature line.
Then I tore the agreement in half.
Martin’s face hardened.
“You should consider your circumstances carefully.”
“My mother’s medical insurance depends on my employment.”
“You have already lost that employment.”
“Then I have nothing left to protect except the truth.”
Detective Ellis almost smiled.
Martin collected the torn pages.
“You will regret this.”
After he left, Detective Ellis uncuffed me.
“You are not being charged tonight.”
“Renata has not formally withdrawn the complaint, but the child’s injury creates complications.”
I stood.
“What happens to Lily?”
“Child Protective Services has been notified.”
Relief washed through me.
Then Detective Ellis added something that destroyed it.
“Mr. Callahan has taken Lily home.”
“With Renata?”
“Yes.”
May you like
I grabbed my coat.
“Then she is not safe.”
