Chapter 6 - THE VIDEOS
Madison’s hands shook so badly Thomas had to take the phone before she dropped it.
The first video opened with laughter.
Teenage laughter.
Rebecca was carrying plates stacked almost to her chin. Her dress had a stain on the sleeve. Someone off-camera said, “Careful, Cinderella.”
Another voice laughed, “No, she’s not Cinderella. Cinderella got invited.”
Thomas watched his daughter keep walking, jaw clenched, eyes bright with tears.
The next video showed Samuel standing beside the drink table, arms trembling beneath a tray of glasses.
Robert’s voice came from somewhere out of frame.
“Stand straight. Davenports do not slouch.”
Samuel whispered, “It’s heavy.”
Robert replied, “Then stop being useless.”
Thomas’s grip tightened around the phone.
The third video was Jacob.
Six years old.
On his knees.
Scrubbing spilled sauce from under a table while two cousins pointed their phones at him.
Jacob looked up once and said, “Can I have water?”
Helen’s voice answered, cool and bored.
“When guests are finished.”
Thomas lowered the phone.
He could not watch more. Not yet.
Madison sobbed. “I’m sorry. I thought it was just… I don’t know. Everyone laughed. Grandma said they were spoiled and needed discipline.”
Elaine grabbed her daughter’s arm. “Stop talking.”
Thomas looked at Elaine’s hand.
“Let her go.”
Elaine obeyed.
The first police car arrived at the front drive. Then another.
Guests began whispering, suddenly desperate to appear innocent.
Thomas turned toward them.
“Anyone who recorded my children and laughed will send every video to my attorney before leaving.”
No one argued.
Robert did.
“You have no right to trap people here.”
Daniel said calmly, “The gates are not locked. Security is present because minors were abused on private property.”
Robert spat, “You always were dramatic.”
Thomas faced him.
“I learned from you.”
Helen’s eyes darted toward the stairs.
Thomas noticed.
So did Rebecca.
“Dad,” she whispered. “Grandma keeps a book.”
Helen stopped moving.
Thomas looked at his daughter.
“What book?”
Rebecca swallowed.
“The black one. She writes down when we make mistakes.”
Samuel added, “And what punishments we get.”
Mrs. Alvarez covered her mouth.
The police entered the hall.
Thomas turned toward Helen.
“Where is it?”
Helen lifted her chin.
“I don’t know what these children are imagining.”
Jacob, still holding Thomas’s coat, whispered one sentence.
“It’s in Mom’s old room.”
Thomas went still.
Claire’s room.
May you like
The room Helen had told him was kept untouched.
The room he had not entered since the funeral.
