Chapter 8 - Ava Talks
Vanessa moved so fast that Officer Ramirez had to step in front of her.
“Ava, you are coming with me.”
“No.”
“You’re my daughter.”
Ava backed away.
The teacher placed a hand on her shoulder.
“She came to me voluntarily,” she said.
Vanessa stared at her.
“You stay out of this.”
The teacher didn’t move.
Officer Ramirez turned toward Ava.
“Do you want your mother in the room while you speak?”
Ava looked terrified.
“No.”
Vanessa’s mouth opened.
Her attorney touched her arm.
“Don’t.”
That one word finally stopped her.
Ava was taken into another office with the counselor and the officer.
We waited outside.
Mia sat beside me.
Daniel sat across from us.
He kept looking at her like he wanted to speak.
Every time he opened his mouth, he stopped.
Good.
Some apologies should hurt before they’re spoken.
After twenty-five minutes, Officer Ramirez returned.
His expression was no longer uncertain.
“We have a problem.”
Vanessa’s attorney stood.
“What kind?”
The officer ignored him and looked at Daniel and me.
“Ava says her mother instructed her to use Mia’s missing phone to send messages to Ava’s account.”
Daniel stared at his sister.
Vanessa laughed.
“This is absurd.”
“She also says you kept the phone.”
“I did not.”
“She says it’s in your home office.”
Vanessa’s attorney whispered, “Do not say another word.”
Officer Ramirez continued.
“Ava also says tonight’s incident was planned.”
I felt Mia grip my hand.
“Planned how?”
“Ava was told to provoke Mia near the entrance. Vanessa intended to record Mia reacting.”
“But Mia didn’t react,” I said.
“Correct.”
“So Vanessa dragged her into the hallway.”
“That appears consistent with the video.”
Vanessa exploded.
“She is lying!”
Nobody answered.
“My own daughter is lying!”
Ava appeared in the doorway.
She looked exhausted.
“No, Mom.”
Vanessa turned.
Ava’s voice was small.
“But I lied before.”
Her chin trembled.
“Because you told me Dad would leave us if people found out what you were really like.”
Vanessa’s husband, Scott, wasn’t there.
I suddenly wondered how much he knew.
Vanessa stared at Ava with a look I never wanted directed at any child.
“You have no idea what you’ve just done.”
Ava started shaking.
The teacher pulled her back.
Officer Ramirez stepped forward.
“Ms. Cole, that sounded like a threat.”
“It was a statement.”
“It’s enough.”
Her attorney tried again.
“My client is leaving.”
Officer Ramirez shook his head.
“No. At this point, I’m requesting consent to secure the phone from the residence.”
“No.”
“Then I’ll contact a judge.”
Vanessa folded her arms.
“You think you’re getting a warrant because of the word of two children?”
Ava suddenly looked at Daniel.
“Uncle Daniel.”
He stood.
“What?”
“There’s another phone.”
Vanessa went white.
Ava swallowed.
“Mom has two.”
The attorney stared at Vanessa.
Daniel stared at Vanessa.
May you like
And Ava said the sentence that finally scared her mother.
“The black one has all the messages.”
