Chapter 13 - What the Second Camera Recorded
Natalie did not watch the entire footage.
Detective Harris warned her it would be painful.
She asked only what was necessary.
The recording showed Rachel leading Eli into the shed.
Linda stood outside holding the dinosaur.
Rachel asked where the memory card was.
Eli refused.
Linda told him his mother would lose her home if he did not answer.
That was a lie.
Then Rachel closed the door.
For the next thirty-seven minutes, Eli cried, knocked, and begged to leave.
Rachel entered twice.
She gave him water during the first visit.
During the second, she grabbed his bandaged wrist after he tried to run past her.
He struck the wall and fell.
That explained his injuries.
Linda entered once.
She did not touch Eli.
She stood over him and said:
“Your grandfather caused enough trouble.”
Eli called her a monster.
Linda replied:
“Then monsters win.”
She closed the door again.
The footage ended when Eli collapsed against the floor and knocked the camera loose.
Rachel had directly injured him.
Linda had directed the confinement and refused to release him.
Eli was pointing at both women in the ICU because, in his mind, both were monsters.
One used her hands.
The other used fear.
Natalie sat in silence after hearing the summary.
Then she asked:
“Did either of them try to help him after he collapsed?”
Harris shook his head.
“The neighbor called emergency services.”
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Linda and Rachel had not saved Eli.
A stranger who heard him screaming did.
