Chapter 10 - The family group chat
The most revealing evidence did not come from police.
It came from my cousin Lisa.
After my hospital message spread through the family, Lisa called.
“There’s a chat you’re not in.”
Of course.
“What chat?”
“Mom, your mom, Vanessa, Aunt Cheryl, me sometimes.”
Named:
GIRLS.
Mostly recipes.
Birthday plans.
Complaints.
Then Emma appeared.
Diane:
Rachel babies Emma too much. She screams if anyone tells her no.
Vanessa:
Lily is starting to resent her.
Aunt Cheryl:
They’re four and eight. They’ll survive.
Vanessa:
Rachel never makes Emma give anything back.
Diane:
I’ve started handling it when Rachel isn’t here. Much easier.
My throat tightened.
Another:
Vanessa:
Emma took Lily’s chair again.
Diane:
Move her. She knows better.
Lisa:
Does Rachel care about a chair?
Diane:
Rachel cares if anyone breathes wrong near Emma.
Then one from two weeks before the incident:
Vanessa:
I’m done asking nicely.
Diane reacted with a thumbs-up.
No threat.
No weapon.
But an escalation in language.
Lisa had read all this and never told me.
Why?
“It sounded like family complaining.”
May you like
Fair.
Until it didn’t.
