Chapter 5 - Why Hunter Never Told Her
Abigail sat beside Hunter’s bed that evening.
His breathing had steadied.
He kept his eyes closed, but his fingers remained wrapped around hers.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
His eyelids fluttered.
“For what?”
“For not knowing.”
Hunter stared at the blanket.
“Grandma said you knew.”
Abigail felt something tear inside her.
“Knew what?”
“That I was bad.”
“You are not bad.”
“She said you worked because you didn’t want to be with me.”
Abigail shook her head.
“No. Never.”
Hunter’s lower lip trembled.
“She said if I told, you would lose your job.”
Abigail leaned closer.
“She lied.”
“She said we would lose our apartment.”
“She lied about that too.”
Tears moved silently down his face.
“She said you needed her.”
Abigail understood.
Evelyn had built the perfect threat.
Not punishment for Hunter.
Punishment for his mother.
He believed speaking would hurt Abigail.
So he endured.
“What did she do when you cried?” Abigail asked carefully.
Hunter looked toward the door.
Nurse Ramirez stood outside, giving them privacy while remaining close.
Hunter whispered, “She called Aunt Bertha.”
“What happened when Bertha came?”
His body stiffened.
The monitor quickened.
Abigail stopped immediately.
“You don’t have to tell me now.”
Hunter looked at her.
“Will Grandma come back?”
“No.”
“Promise?”
“I promise.”
He held her hand tighter.
“Even if she says sorry?”
“Even then.”
Hunter closed his eyes.
For the first time since admission, his shoulders relaxed.
Abigail remained beside him all night.
At sunrise, Detective Cole entered with a clear evidence bag.
Inside was Hunter’s stuffed fox.
Its fabric was dirty.
One side had been torn open.
Something small and metallic was visible beneath the stuffing.
Cole placed the bag on the counter.
“We found this behind the shed.”
Abigail stared at it.
“What’s inside?”
May you like
“A recording device.”
👉 Someone had hidden a recorder inside Hunter’s toy—and it may have captured what the women believed no one would ever hear.
