Chapter 9 - The Recording She Didn't Know Existed
The folder contained messages.
Messages supposedly sent by Elena.
They made her look unstable.
Angry.
Resentful toward Leo.
One read:
Sometimes I wish I never became a mother.
Elena went white.
“I never wrote that.”
Our attorney whispered.
“I know.”
Margaret's attorney claimed the screenshots came from Elena's old tablet.
There was one problem.
Elena's old tablet had been sitting in our guest bedroom.
The same bedroom Margaret used during those six days.
Our attorney requested time to verify the messages.
The judge agreed.
A digital specialist examined the device.
The truth came quickly.
The messages had never been sent.
They were drafts.
Created locally.
During the week Margaret stayed in our house.
From the tablet.
While Elena was downstairs.
Margaret had manufactured them.
But the bigger surprise came from the hidden dining-room camera.
It recorded audio.
On Thursday afternoon, Margaret spoke to Susan.
We hadn't listened to that section before.
Now we did.
Margaret's voice was unmistakable.
“If Elena cracks while Michael is away, he'll finally understand she can't handle motherhood.”
Susan responded.
“And if she doesn't?”
Margaret laughed.
“Everyone cracks eventually.”
The recording continued.
“I just need enough for Michael to doubt her.”
Then another sentence.
“If necessary, I'll make sure a judge doubts her too.”
Our attorney played the recording in court.
May you like
Margaret stopped smiling.
For the first time, she had nothing to say.
