Chapter 3 - MARTHA’S SECOND STORY
Detective Lena Ortiz arrived after midnight.
County child-abuse investigator.
Her voice was calm enough to make people fill silence.
Martha had been moved to a consultation room.
No arrest yet.
A parent cannot be arrested simply because a child is ill.
Evidence first.
Lena asked:
“When was the cast placed?”
“Five weeks ago.”
“Where?”
“Urgent care.”
Hospital records disagreed.
“Did anyone tell you to return?”
“No.”
Records disagreed.
“Did Caleb complain of odor?”
“No.”
Impossible.
“Did he have a wound under the cast?”
“No.”
Then Lena showed her the original emergency note.
A superficial laceration had been documented near the fracture.
Martha stared.
“I forgot.”
“Was the cast ever wet?”
“He splashes water everywhere.”
“When did the smell begin?”
Martha stopped answering.
Her attorney arrived at 1:42 a.m.
Good.
People deserve lawyers even when I want answers.
Before she stopped speaking, Martha said one sentence.
“You should ask Rebecca what she did to him.”
Rebecca.
May you like
Caleb’s paternal aunt.
First new name.
