Chapter 4 - The Timeline That Didn’t Add Up
Detective Mitchell returned my call at 7:12 the next morning.
“I found another recording.”
“What does it show?”
I described the SUV sitting across from my house.
The argument.
Mariana looking into the back seat.
Her reaction.
There was a pause.
“Don't delete anything.”
“I won't.”
“Can you send the original file?”
“Yes.”
“I'll meet you at the hospital.”
When I arrived, Sofia was awake.
She looked exhausted, but when she saw me, she reached one hand toward my necklace.
I nearly cried.
“Hey, little lady.”
A nurse helped position her so I could sit nearby without disturbing her immobilized leg.
“You gave us all a scare.”
Sofia stared at me.
Then wrapped her fingers around mine.
That tiny gesture strengthened something in me.
Whatever happened next, I would not be pressured into silence.
Detective Mitchell met me outside.
I showed him the new footage.
He watched it three times.
“This vehicle was there how long?”
“About sixteen minutes.”
“Did you know they were outside?”
“No.”
“Did Mariana call you?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“This changes the timeline.”
“How?”
“We'll speak to them.”
Mariana arrived half an hour later.
Alone.
That was unusual.
“Where's Rodrigo?” I asked.
“With his attorney.”
My stomach tightened.
“He has an attorney already?”
“You gave police videos.”
“I gave them evidence.”
“You don't even know what happened.”
“Exactly.”
Mariana stared at me.
“You think Rodrigo did this.”
“I think you know more than you're saying.”
Her mouth trembled.
“Be careful.”
“Why?”
“Because once you accuse someone of something like this, you can't take it back.”
“I haven't accused anyone.”
“You've told police about Christmas.”
“I told the truth.”
“You told them he punched a wall.”
“He did.”
“That was years ago.”
“Less than a year.”
“He's never hurt Sofia.”
“How do you know?”
Her eyes flashed.
“Because he's her father.”
“That doesn't answer me.”
Mariana turned away.
I took a step closer.
“What happened before you came to my house?”
“Nothing.”
“Then why did you sit outside for sixteen minutes?”
She froze.
There.
The reaction.
She didn't ask what I meant.
She already knew.
“I don't remember.”
“The camera does.”
Her shoulders dropped.
For a moment, my sister looked ten years older.
“She was crying.”
“I know.”
“We thought she was tired.”
“Why did you get out and check the back seat?”
“She screamed.”
“And then?”
“Nothing.”
“You covered your mouth.”
Mariana said nothing.
“Did you see the bruise?”
“No.”
“Did you touch her leg?”
“No.”
“Did Rodrigo?”
“No.”
“You're lying.”
She spun toward me.
“You have no idea what my life is like!”
The hallway went quiet.
Two nurses looked over.
Mariana lowered her voice.
“You don't know what it means to wake up every day trying to keep everyone calm.”
I felt a chill.
“Everyone?”
She looked toward the floor.
“Forget it.”
“No.”
“I shouldn't have said anything.”
“Mariana, are you afraid of Rodrigo?”
“No.”
The answer came too fast.
“Has he hurt you?”
“No.”
“Has he threatened you?”
“No.”
“Has he ever handled Sofia when angry?”
“No!”
Then she started crying.
Not the controlled tears I'd seen the day before.
She folded against the wall.
I reached for her.
She flinched.
That reaction terrified me.
“Mariana.”
“Stop asking questions.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't understand.”
“Then explain it.”
Before she could answer, Detective Mitchell appeared.
“Mariana?”
She wiped her face immediately.
“Yes?”
“I'd like to speak with you.”
Her whole body tensed.
“Do I need a lawyer?”
“You can have one if you'd like.”
She stared at me.
Then followed him.
Two hours passed.
During that time, Rodrigo did not appear.
Instead, his attorney arrived.
Then another investigator.
Then a CPS supervisor.
Something was moving quickly.
At noon, Rebecca asked me to sit down.
“We've made an emergency placement decision.”
“What decision?”
“When Sofia is medically cleared, she will not be released to either parent at this time.”
My heart pounded.
“Where will she go?”
“We're evaluating relatives.”
“Me?”
“You're being considered.”
I almost couldn't speak.
“Mariana will hate me.”
“This isn't about what Mariana wants.”
I looked through the window at Sofia.
“Can she come with me?”
“If your background check, home inspection, and court authorization are approved.”
“What about the investigation?”
“That will continue.”
Then Rebecca said something unexpected.
“We have another concern.”
“What?”
“Rodrigo gave investigators a version of events that differs significantly from Mariana's.”
“How?”
“I can't give you everything.”
“Anything you can.”
She hesitated.
“Rodrigo says Mariana was alone with Sofia for most of the morning.”
My stomach dropped.
“What?”
“Mariana says they were together.”
“So they're blaming each other.”
“Not explicitly.”
“But that's where this is going.”
Rebecca didn't respond.
An hour later, Mariana emerged from the interview room.
She looked destroyed.
“Can we talk?”
I followed her into an empty waiting area.
She sat down.
For a long time, she didn't speak.
Then she said, “He says I hurt her.”
The words barely came out.
“Rodrigo?”
She nodded.
“He told them I got frustrated because she wouldn't stop crying.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then tell them what happened.”
“I did.”
“What happened?”
Mariana pressed both hands over her face.
“He was changing her.”
My heart stopped.
“When?”
“That morning.”
“What time?”
“After nine.”
“The diaper.”
She nodded.
“He changed her.”
“But you told investigators you changed Sofia at eight.”
“I lied.”
“Why?”
“Because Rodrigo told me to.”
I stood.
“Why would he tell you to lie?”
“Sit down.”
“No, Mariana. Tell me.”
Her voice cracked.
“Because Sofia started screaming while he was changing her.”
The air seemed to disappear from the room.
“What did he do?”
“I don't know exactly.”
“You were there.”
“I was in the bathroom.”
“What happened?”
“I heard Sofia scream. Then Rodrigo swore.”
“And?”
“I ran into the nursery.”
She began shaking.
“He was holding her leg.”
“How?”
“Trying to put the diaper on.”
“Was he angry?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Mariana closed her eyes.
“He said she kicked him.”
A six-month-old baby.
My stomach turned.
“What happened next?”
“I took her.”
“Was she crying?”
“Yes.”
“Did you see the bruise?”
“Not yet.”
“Did you know she was injured?”
“I knew something was wrong.”
“And you still brought her to me.”
Tears rolled down Mariana's cheeks.
“I wanted to take her to urgent care.”
“But?”
“Rodrigo said I was overreacting.”
I stared at her.
“He suggested we leave Sofia with you.”
She nodded.
The realization hit like ice.
“He wanted me involved.”
“I don't know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“He said if Sofia was really hurt, you'd notice because you always panic about medical things.”
My hands clenched.
“He said that?”
“Yes.”
“So if I noticed the injury…”
“You'd take her to the hospital.”
“And everyone would know she was injured while she was with me.”
Mariana said nothing.
Her silence answered everything.
I turned away because I couldn't look at her.
“You let him do that.”
“I was scared.”
“You used me as cover.”
“I wasn't thinking.”
“You were sitting outside my house for sixteen minutes!”
“I know.”
“You knew Sofia was hurting.”
“I know!”
Her voice broke into a sob.
“I know.”
For a moment, I hated her.
Not forever.
But in that moment, I did.
Then she said, “There's more.”
I slowly turned back.
“What?”
Mariana looked toward the hallway to make sure no one was nearby.
“Rodrigo thinks I deleted the nursery camera recording.”
My pulse quickened.
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Then where is it?”
Her eyes met mine.
May you like
“I saved it.”
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