Chapter 13 - THE PAID WITNESS
The woman’s name was Sandra Cole.
She had once worked as a babysitter for a family three streets away. I recognized her immediately because Diane had introduced us at a school fundraiser months earlier.
“She’s wonderful with children,” Diane had said.
Now I heard Sandra’s voice on the recorder.
“You said I wouldn’t have to testify.”
Diane answered, “You may not. The report just needs to trigger the investigation.”
“What if they ask how I know?”
“Say Lily told you she goes to bed hungry.”
“She never told me that.”
A pause.
Then Diane said, “I’m not paying you to be difficult.”
My entire body went cold.
The recording continued.
Sandra asked about money.
Diane promised her two thousand dollars after “the emergency placement is complete.”
Maya made three copies before handing the device to the investigator.
By the end of the week, the neglect inquiry against me was closed, Diane’s contact with the twins was suspended, and her own conduct was under investigation.
I should have felt safe.
Instead, I felt hunted.
Every time a car slowed near the house, Lily froze.
Every time someone knocked, Noah ran to stand between his sister and the door.
One night I found Lily sitting on the kitchen floor at midnight.
The refrigerator door was open.
She was holding a yogurt cup but had not eaten it.
“What’s wrong, baby?”
She whispered, “I’m waiting to see if I’m allowed.”
I sat beside her and cried silently while she ate three small spoonfuls.
Then she asked a question I was not ready for.
“Did Daddy know Grandma was bad?”
I thought about Michael’s letter.
“Yes,” I said carefully. “He knew she could hurt people when she tried to control them.”
Lily looked at me.
“Then why did he let her come here?”
I had no answer.
But Michael’s flash drive did.
May you like
There was one final folder we had not been able to open.
That night, Daniel cracked the password.
