Chapter 5 - MOLLY’S INTERVIEWMolly’s forensic interview gave us less certainty than I wanted.
And more than Daniel wanted.
She said Grandma came over Tuesday.
Owen was crying.
Dad held him.
Grandma opened “the orange medicine.”
Which one?
Molly did not know.
She saw Linda pour something into the sink.
Then put another bottle beside the medicine bag.
“Did Grandma pour out all of it?”
“I don’t know.”
Good interviewers protect uncertainty.
“What did Dad do?”
“He held Owen.”
“Anything else?”
“He said, ‘Mom, hurry up.’”
“Did he say why?”
“No.”
“What happened to the real medicine?”
“Grandma put it in the grocery bag.”
“Then?”
“She put the bag in the trash.”
“How did you get it?”
“When they went upstairs because Owen was crying, I got it.”
“Why?”
Molly shrugged.
“The doctor said he needed it.”
Dr. Sterling had said that during the original appointment.
Molly remembered.
“Why did you put it in Scout?”
“Because Grandma checks my backpack.”
My throat tightened when the interviewer reported that.
“Did anyone tell you not to tell your mother?”
Molly said:
“Dad said don’t make Mom worry.”
Different from:
Keep this secret.
Still concerning.
Then:
“Grandma said Mom gets crazy about medicine.”
I closed my eyes.
Molly had absorbed a hierarchy:
Adults switch.
Dad protects Grandma.
Mom cannot know.
Child watches.
May you like
Child becomes evidence locker.
No.
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