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“But that wasn’t the truth?” Jared asks her.
“No, I lied because Uncle Liam said I had to keep our plan a secret in order for it to work and keep Fallon safe.”
Jared begins to pace in front of Madden. “And did you check on your sister after hiding her in the storm shelter under the shed?”
Madden nods her head. “Yes, I made sure she was okay, plus Uncle Liam said he was taking care of her. But then…” Madden stares out in a daze toward the crowded courtroom. “After a few days, she was gone. Fallon wasn’t in the cellar of the shed anymore and I don’t know where she went.”
My hands are shaking as I try to digest these horrifying words from a nine-year-old. Willa puts her hand on top of mine and it’s the first time I’ve appreciated her comfort today.
“Thank you, Madden. I know that was difficult for you to talk about.”
“Does the defendant’s attorney wish to question the witness?”
“Yes, thank you,” Liam’s attorney says.
He and Jared switch places and I worry about the way this attorney might speak to Madden, possibly forgetting she’s only nine.
“Madden, you did a great job remembering all those facts. I only have one question for you now. Do you think your Uncle Liam was trying to protect Fallon from your mom and dad?”
“Objection,” Lara and Corbin’s attorney shouts. “Leading the witness.”
“Sustained,” the judge says.
“Okay, I will re-word my question. Madden, do you think your Uncle Liam was trying to protect Fallon?” the attorney asks.
“Of course,” Madden says. “He loves us.”
“Those are all the questions I have, Your Honor.”
The judge straightens his posture, lifts a pile of papers and taps the edges against the lectern to even out the stack. “I’m going to allow for the closing statements now and then the jury will deliberate,” the judge says.
Bile in my stomach is burning up through my esophagus and I might get sick right here, right now. I duck down and scurry out of the row toward the courtroom door to exit and make a beeline for the restroom.
I lock myself in one of the bathroom stalls and wait for my stomach to settle. I hold my head between my knees, rehashing all the questions of the family today. Most of the questions painted Lara and Corbin in the light of bad parenting, but not necessarily criminals. Although, I suspect there will be charges brought against them for waiting several days to report their missing daughter.
The one thing that became clear to me was that they needed to find someone to blame, someone who wasn’t Madden.
My timing couldn’t have been worse.
I had posted my availability on several local classified job websites and in sub-categories for parents who were looking for summer help to watch their children. One of the postings was even listed in the town weekly newsletter.
My name probably stuck out like a flashing neon light to them when they saw my ad looking for a nannying job. Who better to take the fall for their missing daughter than the person they’d already taken so much from. It’s clear they always needed someone else to blame for the bad things that happened in their family.
“Haley?” Willa likely didn’t have a hard time finding me. “Are you in here?”
“Yes, and I want you to leave,” I utter.
“Hales, I was just making sure you’re okay.”
“That’s all you’re ever doing, right?” I realize there might be other people in the restroom but I’m not sure I care. “How long ago did you agree to this favor?”
“What favor?” she asks, her voice pitchy with an accent of confusion.
I tear open the stall door and brush by her to wash my hands and splash water onto my face. “Please leave.”
“Haley, I’m honestly worried for you.”
“For me?” I laugh. “Why? I’m here as a spectator, not as a person-of-interest anymore.”
