Chapter 8 - CONNORConnor’s parents brought him to police with an attorney.
Melissa called me first.
I nearly did not answer.
Then I did.
She was crying before speaking.
“Rachel.”
“Is he with you?”
“Yes.”
“Keep him away from Lily.”
“Yes.”
“Did you know?”
“No.”
“Do not lie to me.”
“I swear.”
I believed her.
Mostly.
Then she said:
“Connor says it was a game.”
My entire body went rigid.
“What game?”
“He won’t explain to me.”
“Then stop talking about facts with me.”
She went quiet.
I had learned one thing quickly.
Do not let family telephone calls become substitute interrogations.
“Let police do it.”
Melissa whispered:
“I’m sorry.”
I ended the call.
Connor’s first formal account was that Lily swallowed the magnets voluntarily because she wanted to “do a trick.”
Then the video showed him holding her jaw.
His account changed.
He said she agreed at first.
Then got scared.
He “helped.”
May you like
Helped.
There are words people use when the accurate verb is unbearable.
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