Chapter 8 - The Price of Speaking
By morning, Elena's face was on a local gossip page.
The photograph came from her staffing profile.
The caption called her a thief who had staged a rich child's meltdown to extort money.
Elena read it outside Lucy's room.
Then she turned off her phone.
Her mother called the hospital desk because she couldn't get through.
“Mija, what is happening?”
Elena shut herself in an empty family room.
“I helped a little girl.”
“Then why are people saying these things?”
“Because I helped a little girl.”
When Daniel found her, she was removing the agency badge from her sweater.
“I should go home for a while.”
“Because of that post?”
“Because my mother is frightened. Because strangers are calling me. Because I still have a life outside your emergency.”
He stepped back.
“You're right.”
The answer surprised her.
“I'll arrange independent legal help if you want it,” he said.
“You choose the lawyer. You don't owe me anything in return.”
She considered him.
“Don't pay me to stay quiet.”
“I'm asking you to keep telling the truth.”
Before she left, Elena told Lucy she was going home to sleep and see her mother.
She didn't promise a time she couldn't keep.
“Did I get you fired?” Lucy asked.
Elena sat down.
“No. An adult told a lie about me. That's an adult problem.”
“Because I ate the rice?”
“Because she got caught hurting you.”
Lucy blinked hard.
Elena waited until she looked up.
“None of this is your fault.”
At home, Elena found three missed calls from an unfamiliar number.
The fourth came while she was taking off her shoes.
“This is Walter. I cooked for the Olesos before you started.”
Elena sat on the edge of her bed.
Vanessa had told her the previous cook retired.
“I saw what they're saying about you,” he continued.
“I need to tell the detective something.”
“Tell me first.”
He hesitated.
“She fired me because I gave Lucy a sandwich.”
Elena closed her eyes.
May you like
“Will you say that on the record?”
“Yes. And I kept the messages.”
