Chapter 3 – The Closet
The investigation moved quickly.
Police interviewed staff members.
Housekeepers.
Drivers.
Chefs.
Every interview revealed another piece of the same nightmare.
Nobody dared challenge Vanessa.
Anyone who secretly gave Sophie food was fired.
Anyone who comforted her was threatened.
Then Sophie was asked one final question.
A child psychologist knelt beside her.
"Sweetheart..."
"Is there anything else you want your daddy to know?"
Sophie looked toward Richard.
He smiled softly.
"You'll never be in trouble for telling the truth."
Her tiny fingers twisted together.
Then she whispered,
"Sometimes..."
"When Miss Vanessa was angry..."
"She locked me in the dark closet."
Richard closed his eyes.
"And she said..."
"If I told Daddy..."
"...he'd send me away because bad girls don't belong here."
Silence swallowed the room.
Richard fell to his knees beside his daughter.
"I'm so sorry."
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She touched his face.
It was the first time she had ever comforted him.
