Chapter 13 - THE VOICEMAIL
The voicemail lasted forty-three seconds.
Rachel listened twice.
She said, "I know college is expensive. I'm willing to help you if you stop inserting yourself into an adult situation."
Then: "Files disappear all the time. Nobody would blame you."
By noon, the situation had changed again.
Officer Ramirez called Claire. "The theater system has a local backup server. The main video file was deleted, but the server generated thumbnail snapshots every ten seconds."
Ramirez continued. "We're working to recover the full video. Do not post anything online. Do not discuss evidence publicly."
"Understood."
Daniel said, "I need to tell you something."
Claire waited.
"A month ago, Vanessa asked me to sign a document giving her permission to make medical and school decisions for Mia if I wasn't available."
Claire stared at him. "Did you sign it?"
"No. I said it was unnecessary."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought she was trying too hard to be involved."
Claire's voice went quiet. "You kept calling warning signs enthusiasm."
Daniel flinched.
Rachel cut in. "Blame can wait. Information cannot. Anything else?"
Daniel nodded slowly. "Vanessa once asked whether Mia's therapist records sessions."
Rachel leaned back. "She may have been researching how child statements are documented."
Claire looked at Daniel. Rachel's assistant knocked and entered with a printed email.
"Police recovered part of the camera video," she said.
Claire stood so fast her chair rolled backward.
The assistant looked at her.
"It shows Vanessa dragging Mia into the dressing room."
Claire's knees nearly gave out.
Then the assistant added, "And it shows something else."
May you like
"What?"
"Vanessa looked straight at the hallway camera before she went inside."
