Chapter 4: The Voice That Could Not Be Silenced
Dana took Sophia to the hospital while Officer Reed remained at the house.
I followed in my car, watching her small face through the rear window ahead of me.
At the entrance, Ryan caught my arm.
“You can end this,” he said.
“Let go of me.”
“Tell them you overreacted.
I’ll say Christmas was stressful, and we’ll forget it.”
“You locked your daughter in a closet.”
“She needed discipline.”
Lauren stopped beside us.
“Ryan, don’t say another word.”
He released my arm and pointed at her.
“You allowed that recorder into our house.”
“I didn’t know about it.”
“You never know anything until it becomes my fault.”
Dana opened the hospital door.
“Sophia wants her uncle.”
Ryan stepped forward.
“I’m her father.”
“And she asked for Michael.”
Inside the examination room, Sophia sat beneath a paper blanket.
A nurse handed her a cup of water while Dana placed the torn rabbit on the table.
“Can you tell me what the recorder sent away?” Dana asked.
“To Mrs.
Parker’s computer.”
“Did your teacher explain how?”
“She said if I pressed the blue button, she could hear me.”
Ryan’s lawyer arrived before Dana could ask anything else.
Malcolm Price entered with a leather folder and Dr.
Marsh behind him.
“My clients will not answer further questions,” Malcolm said.
Dr.
Marsh lifted Sophia’s medical file.
“Her marks are consistent with a clotting disorder.”
The nurse looked up.
“Her bloodwork is normal.”
“You ran the wrong panel,” Dr.
Marsh replied.
“Then tell me which panel proves your diagnosis.”
Dr.
Marsh closed the file.
“I won’t debate medicine with a nurse.”
Sophia pushed her water away.
“He never looked at my arms.”
Everyone turned toward her.
Dr.
Marsh cleared his throat.
“Sophia, I examined you last month.”
“No.
Daddy took me to the car, and Mommy went inside.”
Lauren’s face lost its color.
Ryan leaned toward Sophia.
“You’re confused.”
She shrank against the bed.
I moved between them.
“Don’t speak to her like that.”
Malcolm pointed at me.
“This man is interfering with a parent and child.”
“This man is protecting her,” Dana said.
“Ryan and Lauren, step into the corridor.”
Ryan stopped at the door.
“Sophia, tell them Uncle Michael promised you presents if you lied.”
“I never said that.”
“You know what happens when people tell stories.”
Officer Reed placed a hand against Ryan’s chest.
“Out.”
Sophia began shaking after the door closed.
I sat beside her but waited until she reached for my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
“Daddy says people leave when I make trouble.”
“I’m not leaving.”
Dana’s phone rang.
She answered and put it on speaker.
“Dana Walsh speaking.”
A woman’s voice filled the room.
“My name is Eleanor Parker.
I used to teach Sophia.”
Sophia sat upright.
“Mrs.
Parker?”
“I’m here, sweetheart.”
Dana moved closer to the phone.
“Do you have recordings from the device?”
“I have eleven files.
I contacted your department three months ago, but the case was closed after Dr.
Marsh submitted a medical explanation.”
“Can you send the files now?”
“I already did.
But there’s something else.”
A keyboard clicked on Mrs.
Parker’s end.
“On the last recording, Ryan isn’t only threatening Sophia,” she said.
“He and Lauren are arguing about money left to her by her grandmother.”
Ryan’s voice suddenly thundered from the corridor.
“Turn that off!”
Officer Reed held the door shut as the handle jerked.
May you like
Mrs.
Parker continued, “Michael, you need to hear what your brother planned to do once Sophia’s trust was empty.”
