Chapter 5 - Noah’s first interview
Noah’s forensic interview lasted less than an hour.
He did not give police a perfect timeline.
Children rarely do.
He said Mom had been “downstairs.”
Dad told him she was sick.
Grandma brought food.
Sometimes at night.
He had seen Emily through a crack in the door.
Once.
Maybe twice.
She whispered:
“Don’t tell Dad you saw me.”
That sentence confused investigators.
Why would Emily tell her own son not to reveal her presence?
Noah explained:
“Because Dad said if I made trouble, he’d send her away where I couldn’t find her.”
Did Richard hit Noah?
No.
Did he lock Noah anywhere?
No.
Did Margaret threaten him?
No.
What did Grandma do?
“Put food by the door.”
Did Margaret talk to Emily?
“I heard her say, ‘You need to cooperate.’”
Anything else?
Noah remembered a second voice.
Not his mother.
That changed everything.
“Man or woman?”
He did not know.
“Big voice or little voice?”
He said:
“Quiet.”
Who was it?
Noah shrugged.
May you like
That was all.
The second captive person remained unknown.
