Chapter 11 - THE FIRST TEST
Rosa Delgado met us at a police station.
She looked terrified.
"Mrs. Hart told me never to contact you."
"Tell me what happened," I said.
"When Lily was four, she got a rash at Evelyn's house."
I remembered it.
Red skin along Lily's neck.
We blamed soap.
Rosa shook her head.
"I saw Evelyn rub peanut butter on a napkin, then touch Lily's skin."
I stood.
"Why?"
"She wanted to prove you and Anna were exaggerating the allergy."
Rosa started crying.
"Anna caught her. They had a terrible fight. Anna said Evelyn would never be alone with Lily again."
That was the summer Anna stopped taking Lily to her mother's house.
I had thought it was another argument about boundaries.
Rosa had saved old messages.
DELETE ANYTHING ABOUT THE RASH. ANNA IS HYSTERICAL.
Another:
IF DANIEL ASKS, SAY LILY ATE SOMETHING AT SCHOOL.
Then Rosa handed Collins a recent draft affidavit.
Evelyn had offered her money to claim I sometimes forgot Lily's medication.
Same language as Voss's fake report.
Same strategy.
Build a record.
Create an incident.
Take the child.
Take the trust.
Rosa also gave us a business card.
Aaron Pike, private investigator.
"She told me to call him if I changed my mind."
Collins recognized the name.
Pike was the man photographing Lily outside school.
She checked his latest cell location.
Her face tightened.
"What?"
"He's moving toward your father's address."
I called Dad.
No answer.
Again.
May you like
Nothing.
When patrol cars reached his street, the front door was already open.
