Chapter 2 - The Story They Had Prepared
By midnight, Nora understood one thing clearly.
The police had not arrived to investigate.
They had arrived with a story already written.
Detective Hayes sat across from her in a small interview room, a paper cup of untouched coffee between them.
"The family says you became emotionally attached to Sophie," he said.
"I was her caregiver."
"They say you started telling her not to trust her stepmother."
"I told her she was allowed to say when something made her feel sick."
Hayes opened a folder.
"This was found in your room."
He slid the letter across the table.
Nora stared at her own forged signature.
I cannot allow Sophie to remain in that house. I am taking her somewhere safe.
"I didn't write this."
"You understand how that sounds."
"Yes. Convenient."
His eyebrows rose.
"The bracelet?"
"Not mine."
"Cash?"
"Not mine."
"You took Sophie to St. Anne's without notifying her father."
"I tried to notify him."
"How?"
"Three written reports. Two emails. One voicemail."
"Mr. Callahan says he received none of them."
Nora leaned back.
"That's the point."
Hayes watched her.
She told him about the day Sophie whispered, "I feel normal before the pink cup."
And about the lab work from St. Anne's.
"Where is that report?" Hayes asked.
"The doctor said he would upload it."
Hayes turned his laptop around.
"St. Anne's says no completed toxicology report exists under Sophie's name."
Nora's stomach dropped.
"That's impossible."
"The sample was marked contaminated and discarded."
She stared at the screen.
Now the sample was gone.
Hayes lowered his voice. "Ms. Ellis, if someone is framing you, they're doing it with access most people don't have."
Nora looked at him carefully.
"Do you believe me?"
"I believe something about this case is too neat."
At 1:18 a.m., the interview-room door opened.
A woman in a navy suit stepped inside carrying a leather folder.
"Nora Ellis? I'm Rachel Kim."
"Public defender?"
"Private counsel."
Nora frowned. "I can't afford private counsel."
Rachel placed a card on the table.
"Someone paid my retainer six hours ago."
"Who?"
Rachel hesitated.
"The payment came from an account belonging to Lillian Callahan."
May you like
Nora stopped breathing.
Sophie's mother had been dead for three years.
