Chapter 7 - The Camera She Forgot
The recovered clip had no sound.
Detective Cole warned us before she played it.
We sat in a small interview room, Ethan on my left, his lawyer on his other side.
I had already given my statement twice.
Now I had to watch myself become the person who would never again hear breaking glass without remembering a baby falling.
On the screen, the dining room looked peaceful.
People ate.
A waiter poured water.
Vanessa sat beside Oliver’s stroller while Ethan stood to answer his phone.
She watched him walk away.
Then she leaned toward Paul.
He pointed toward the service station.
The camera above it.
Vanessa nodded.
Ethan’s jaw tightened.
The video continued.
Oliver began moving in the stroller. Vanessa looked down, lifted him awkwardly, and stood.
She called toward someone outside the frame.
Me.
I entered carrying the champagne tray.
Vanessa extended the baby.
I shook my head and indicated the tray.
She said something.
I couldn’t hear it.
I didn’t need to.
GET RID OF IT.
Then she let go.
No stumble.
No slipping heel.
No desperate attempt to catch him.
Her hands opened while her feet stayed planted.
Ethan made a sound I hoped never to hear again.
The lawyer reached toward him but didn’t touch him.
On the screen, I dropped the tray.
The champagne glasses seemed to float.
Then I was on the floor.
Oliver was in my arms.
Cole stopped the video.
Nobody spoke.
Finally, Ethan asked, “Can you arrest her now?”
“We’re taking the evidence to the prosecutor today.”
“She’ll leave.”
“We’re addressing that.”
I stared at the frozen image.
My face was turned toward Oliver.
Vanessa was looking down at us.
She didn’t look horrified.
She looked annoyed.
Cole closed the laptop.
“There’s footage from three days earlier too. Vanessa met with Mr. Mercer during the afternoon.”
“What did she want?” Ethan asked.
“We’re still establishing that.”
“Money?”
“We have a witness who heard them discuss a payment.”
My phone buzzed in my pocket.
I ignored it.
Then it buzzed again.
And again.
Cole noticed.
“You can check.”
It was Miguel.
Three messages.
PAUL KNOWS I TALKED.
HE FIRED MY MOM.
The last message contained a photograph.
Miguel’s work locker stood open.
Inside was an envelope filled with cash.
May you like
Under the photograph, he had written:
HE SAYS HE’S CALLING THE POLICE ON ME.
