Chapter 8 - THE DOCTOR’S REPORT
Dr. Samuel Voss practiced adolescent psychiatry from a private office forty miles away.
He treated no patients through Second Harbor officially.
Foundation records showed his clinic received $86,000 in “program-development grants” over three years.
His attorney said the payments funded educational materials and parent consultations.
The six-month-old report about Nate had been created after Karen emailed Dr. Voss photographs of Nate’s hands.
The original photographs were recovered from the doctor’s server.
They showed early injuries.
Karen’s message said Nate had caused them by “secretly using harsh soap to manipulate adults.”
Dr. Voss never spoke with Nate.
He wrote that the presentation was “consistent with compulsive self-injury and attention-seeking behavior,” though he included a recommendation for an in-person examination.
Karen removed that recommendation from the copy shown to the school counselor and Marcus.
The altered report weakened Karen’s credibility.
It did not completely clear Dr. Voss.
His financial ties and role in moving records required investigation.
A search of his office was not immediate. Prosecutors sought records through subpoenas first, then pursued warrants when evidence suggested possible obstruction and falsification.
Dr. Voss denied removing anything from Room 14.
Jordan identified his vehicle from photographs.
A traffic camera captured that vehicle following the box truck away from the camp.
The doctor’s attorney called the identification unreliable.
The camera proved movement, not cargo.
Again, truth came in layers.
Nate’s hands began healing.
New skin formed beneath the dressings. The inflammation decreased. He could bend his fingers more easily, though certain movements caused sharp sensitivity.
He still asked for the black gloves.
Dr. Grant recommended loose cotton coverings if they helped him feel secure, provided they remained clean and did not interfere with treatment.
Lila bought three pairs in different colors.
Nate chose black.
At first, I felt defeated.
Then Dr. Brooks explained that healing did not require him to surrender every coping mechanism immediately.
The goal was choice.
Not forced exposure.
Nate wore the cotton gloves to breakfast.
For the first time, he removed them himself before applying medication.
A week later, Marcus requested to enter a treatment program and asked the family court to reconsider supervised contact.
His attorney submitted proof that he had begun alcohol counseling and parenting classes.
Priya asked Nate what he wanted.
“I want him to tell the truth first.”
Marcus offered another recorded statement to investigators under a limited agreement.
He admitted witnessing Karen force Nate to scrub the workshop sink while using industrial cleaner.
He said he stopped the punishment after several minutes.
Nate said it lasted much longer.
Marcus admitted buying bandages and allowing Karen to explain the injuries to school staff.
He denied knowing about repeated later incidents.
He admitted using Nate’s custodial funds to cover business debts.
He claimed he intended to repay them.
He also described Melissa’s final months.
“She believed Second Harbor was collecting confidential information to pressure parents into continued payments,” he said. “She copied the files. Karen found out.”
“Did Karen threaten her?” the detective asked.
“Yes.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because Melissa had signed some of the financial forms. Karen said they would all go to prison.”
“Did Melissa hide a box?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In the workshop wall.”
“Who removed it?”
Marcus looked toward his attorney.
Then he said, “I did.”
The admission stunned me.
Marcus claimed he removed the box one week after Melissa died.
Inside were ledgers, audio recordings, and copies of parent files.
He feared the documents would implicate him in misuse of nonprofit funds.
“What did you do with them?” investigators asked.
“I gave them to Reverend Moore.”
“Why?”
“He said he would protect Nate.”
“Did he?”
Marcus lowered his head.
“No.”
Reverend Caleb Moore had served on the foundation board and officiated Melissa’s funeral.
He was also the first adult to recommend that Nate live with Karen after his mother’s death.
When investigators searched church financial records, they found annual payments from Second Harbor labeled confidential pastoral services.
One payment had been made the morning of Melissa’s funeral.
The memo line read:
TRANSFER OF BLUE SHEPHERD MATERIALS.
The church maintained a private records archive beneath its administrative building.
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Reverend Moore denied that Melissa’s box was there.
Then the fire alarm activated in the archive at 3:17 the following morning.
