Chapter 5 - BROOKE’S WINEGLASS
Brooke agreed to a voluntary interview, then refused to answer most questions.
Her attorney described her as a frightened aunt manipulated by Evelyn and attacked by Daniel’s accusations.
She had not been punched.
She had been present when Chloe—when I—was confined and starved.
That participation required proof beyond my statement.
The broken wineglass from the nursery carried Brooke’s fingerprints and traces of a prescription sedative.
The wine itself had spilled onto the floor.
The residue came from powder along the rim.
The prescription belonged to Evelyn.
Detective Mitchell asked whether they had drugged me.
I remembered herbal tea Evelyn brought each night.
It tasted bitter.
I believed it was fenugreek to increase milk production.
Hospital toxicology performed after my admission showed a low level of a sedating antihistamine not prescribed to me.
The medication could cause drowsiness and reduce milk supply.
It could pass into breast milk in small quantities.
Doctors could not say whether it affected Leo significantly.
They could say the drug made me weaker.
Evelyn claimed I stole her medication and used it to sleep.
Brooke said she saw me crush tablets.
The security archive might resolve the conflict.
Simon Vale, a digital-forensics specialist, examined the remaining clips and home server.
Someone deleted recordings from the local archive using Evelyn’s temporary guest account.
The command removed video but did not erase device logs, motion events, door locks, thermostat changes, or audio fragments stored by the smart-home assistant.
The house recorded more than the cameras.
At 2:13 a.m. on the third night, the bedroom bolt locked.
At 2:18, the thermostat rose to eighty-two degrees.
At 2:25, the nursery monitor detected prolonged crying.
At 2:31, I asked through the intercom:
“Please bring him to me.”
Brooke answered:
“Not until you finish what Mom gave you.”
A cup clinked.
At 2:47, my speech became slurred.
At 3:04, Brooke carried Leo into the bedroom.
The nursery camera was deleted.
The door sensor remained.
She stayed eleven minutes.
Then she carried him out.
The next morning, Evelyn filmed me asleep beside the untouched plate.
The evidence did not show me refusing food.
It showed them sedating me before photographing it.
Daniel listened to the audio once.
Then he left the room and vomited.
He had spent five days believing his mother’s texts.
Chloe finally slept.
The baby is eating.
Do not distract her.
He had thanked Evelyn for helping.
Guilt made him want to destroy something.
His attorney said:
“You already acted once from rage. Leo and Chloe need you available, not righteous in jail.”
Daniel entered counseling before any court ordered it.
Protection required more than anger.
Then Simon opened the second encrypted clip.
Evelyn stood beside Brooke in the kitchen.
Between them lay a financial ledger.
May you like
Brooke whispered:
“If the audit reaches the foundation, we both go down.”
