Chapter 3
My mother arrived in pearls and outrage.
Eleanor Sterling never walked into a room.
She entered it like judgment had taken human form.
Vanessa stood near the police car outside, crying beautifully.
My mother rushed to her first.
Not Sophie.
Not me.
Vanessa pointed at her cheek.
“He struck me.”
Eleanor gasped.
“Richard.”
I stepped onto the porch with Sophie in my arms.
“Ask why.”
Eleanor looked annoyed.
“This is not appropriate in front of the child.”
Sophie hid her face.
That was the first time my mother seemed to notice her.
“Oh, Sophie,” she said lightly. “What drama have you caused now?”
I felt my whole body go still.
“What did you say?”
Eleanor blinked.
“She has always been sensitive.”
Vanessa sobbed, “I was trying to help her.”
One officer came out with Marcus.
He had the tablet.
“Mrs. Sterling,” the officer said, “you may want to stop speaking.”
He played the pantry footage.
My mother’s face changed.
Only for a second.
But I saw it.
Not shock.
Recognition.
“You knew,” I said.
“No.”
“You knew she was punishing Sophie.”
“I knew Vanessa had structure.”
“Structure?”
My voice dropped.
“She locked my child in a pantry.”
Eleanor lowered her voice.
“Richard, Sophie needs firmness. Since Claire died, you have let guilt raise her.”
Claire.
My wife.
Sophie’s mother.
Dead three years.
I felt Sophie stiffen at her name.
Vanessa wiped her tears.
“She bites. She lies. She manipulates him.”
Sophie whispered, “I don’t.”
I kissed her hair.
“I know.”
Then Marcus stepped closer.
“Sir, there is more footage.”
My stomach dropped.
“What more?”
He looked at Vanessa.
May you like
“Mrs. Sterling visited yesterday. She was here when Miss Vanessa put Sophie in the pantry.”
My mother went pale.
