Chapter 8 - Helen’s sentence
“Don’t make a scene. She deserved it.”
The words had been captured.
Not by security audio.
By my 911 call.
I had not realized the line remained open while I was kneeling beside Lily.
The dispatcher recording captured background voices.
Helen’s sentence.
Frank saying:
“You can drive her.”
Carla saying:
“She came at me.”
Me repeatedly saying:
“Don’t touch the skewer.”
Evidence is often accidental.
Helen was horrified when she learned.
Her attorney said the statement reflected anger, not approval of physical injury.
Maybe.
But she had gone to Carla first.
That fact remained.
Child-protection investigators asked Helen whether she had previously witnessed Carla use physical punishment.
“No.”
“Had you ever authorized it?”
“No.”
“Had you encouraged Carla to be firm?”
“Yes.”
“What did firm mean?”
“Consequences.”
“What kinds?”
Helen described the private system.
No dessert.
No tablet.
Sitting separately.
Apologies.
Then:
“She had to learn adults are adults.”
The investigator asked:
“Did Lily have to hug adults?”
Helen hesitated.
May you like
“No.”
Records later contradicted that.
