Chapter 2 - The Missing Eleven Minutes
Dr. Patel examined Noah at our kitchen table while I stood close enough to touch him every few seconds.
“He looks okay,” she said. “But because of his age and the possibility of a fall, I want him observed tonight. If he vomits, becomes unusually sleepy, or acts differently, you go straight to the ER.”
I nodded.
Vanessa stayed near the doorway, arms folded.
Emma sat on a stool across the room, silent.
The moment Dr. Patel left, I opened the security app on my phone.
The camera was online.
Vanessa leaned over my shoulder. “Maybe the app is wrong.”
“It says active.”
“It glitches.”
I opened the staircase feed.
Live video appeared immediately. There we were in the kitchen, visible through the foyer archway.
I tapped Playback.
4:08 p.m. Noah was in his playpen.
4:09. Emma walked past carrying crayons.
4:10. Vanessa entered the foyer.
Then the screen jumped.
4:21 p.m.
Eleven minutes were gone.
I stared at the timeline.
Vanessa exhaled. “See? It malfunctioned.”
“Only for eleven minutes?”
“Electronics fail.”
“Right when Noah ended up on the stairs?”
She gave me a wounded look. “You think I did something to him?”
I didn’t answer.
Emma slid off the stool.
“Daddy?”
I crouched. “Yeah?”
She looked toward Vanessa, then back to me. “Can I sleep in your room tonight?”
Vanessa’s jaw tightened.
“Of course,” I said.
“No,” Vanessa said too quickly.
We both looked at her.
She forced a smile. “I mean… she has school. She needs normal routines.”
I stood. “Tonight, normal can wait.”
I carried Noah upstairs. Emma followed so closely her hand stayed hooked in the back of my shirt.
At the landing, she whispered, “I didn’t make him fall.”
I stopped.
“I know.”
“No, Daddy.” Her eyes filled. “I mean she said I did.”
My stomach turned cold.
“Who said that?”
Emma looked down the staircase.
Vanessa was still standing in the foyer, staring up at us.
Emma whispered, “Vanessa told Mrs. Cole I pushed him.”
May you like
Mrs. Cole was Emma’s therapist.
And our custody evaluator.
