Chapter 7 - The Return to the House
Marlene called the police that afternoon.
She reported that Savannah had run away after being confronted for mistreating her younger siblings.
She claimed Helena was hiding a dangerous teenager.
The officers visited Helena’s apartment first.
Savannah sat at the dining table while Officer Daniels asked questions.
“Did you leave your mother’s home voluntarily?”
“Yes.”
“Did your aunt force or threaten you?”
“No.”
“Did you leave young children unattended?”
“No. They were with my mother.”
“Your mother says she was away.”
“She was standing in the hallway when I left.”
Helena showed the officer Marlene’s message threatening to make a report.
She also showed part of the apartment footage.
Officer Daniels watched silently.
“We need to examine the home and speak with the children separately,” she said.
Savannah’s first instinct was to refuse.
Returning felt like stepping back into a cage after discovering the door had been open.
But her birth certificate, school documents and medication remained there.
June also needed diapers.
“I’ll go,” Savannah said.
Helena placed a hand on her shoulder.
“You do not have to enter.”
“Yes, I do.”
They arrived just after sunset.
Police lights flashed against the dirty curtains.
Inside, the living room appeared worse than Savannah remembered.
Food containers covered the floor.
One twin cried near the couch.
June coughed from the back room.
Marlene stood in the center of it all, prepared for an audience.
“You abandoned your brothers and sisters!” she shouted as soon as Savannah entered.
The performance began instantly.
Marlene cried for the officers.
She pulled Mateo forward.
She claimed Savannah was unstable, selfish and dangerous.
Mateo repeated the first sentence Marlene had taught him.
“She ran away.”
Then he looked at Savannah.
His courage failed.
Marlene tightened her grip behind his shoulder.
“She hurts us,” Mateo whispered.
Savannah felt the accusation like a door slamming.
She knew he did not mean it.
But she also understood what fear could make someone say.
Officer Daniels noticed Mateo’s expression.
“Can I speak with him alone?” she asked.
Marlene immediately objected.
“He is terrified of Savannah.”
“Then he should be more comfortable speaking away from her.”
Before the officer could move Mateo, Marlene pulled out the blue notebook.
“It is all in her journal,” she declared. “She planned everything.”
Savannah’s fear disappeared.
Marlene had made the mistake of believing the notebook contained only Savannah’s shame.
She did not understand that it contained dates, receipts, names, clinic records and every promise she had broken.
The male officer reached for it.
Savannah spoke.
“Before you open it, ask her where she found it.”
Marlene’s smile faltered.
May you like
“And check the recording my aunt just sent you.”
Officer Daniels’s phone vibrated.
