Chapter 13 - MADISONMadison became the most reluctant witness.
Sixteen.
Our cousin Karen’s daughter.
The girl with the red drink.
She had watched adults turn a party into a criminal investigation.
She felt guilty because she had suggested checking the cameras.
“If I didn’t say anything, Grandma Diane wouldn’t have gotten mad.”
I sat with her mother present.
“No.”
“But the video—”
“Olivia hid the envelope.”
“I know.”
“Mom picked up the bat.”
“I know.”
“You told us where evidence was.”
Madison started crying.
“I saw the blood coming from Lily’s eyes.”
“I know.”
“I thought she was dying.”
“So did I.”
That honesty helped more than pretending it had not been terrifying.
Madison later told investigators something I had missed.
After Ben said:
“No—Olivia stole it herself,”
Diane looked at Olivia first.
Olivia shook her head.
Not a signal.
More like:
Don’t.
Then Diane looked at me.
Madison remembered her saying under her breath:
“You always do this to her.”
The room audio barely captured it.
But enhanced enough for investigators to identify the words.
Not:
May you like
I’ll hurt you.
Still revealing.
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