Chapter 9 - The Hearing
The forensic report came four days later.
The video had been edited.
So had three other clips Damian submitted.
The emails were fabricated.
Metadata showed that several had been created on Damian's own laptop.
The court hearing changed immediately.
Damian's attorney withdrew the documents.
The judge was not amused.
Neither was the child welfare investigator assigned to Beatrice.
Her name was Renee Parker.
She interviewed the children separately.
Valeria was not allowed in the room.
She hated every minute.
Elliot emerged first.
He looked exhausted.
"You okay?"
He nodded.
"Did you tell the truth?"
"Yeah."
"Then you did everything you needed to do."
Beatrice's interview lasted longer.
When she came out, her eyes were red.
Renee remained inside with Marcus.
Valeria sat beside Beatrice.
"You don't have to tell me what you said."
Beatrice leaned against her shoulder.
"I told her about the stairs."
Valeria's heart tightened.
"The first time?"
Beatrice nodded.
"What happened?"
"He grabbed me."
"We saw that."
"That wasn't the first time."
Valeria became still.
Beatrice stared at her hands.
"There was another time at Grandma Catherine's house."
Valeria frowned.
"Catherine's mother?"
"No. Mom's old house."
"The abandoned one?"
Beatrice nodded.
"When?"
"Last year."
Valeria could barely process it.
"Damian took you there last year?"
"He said he wanted to show me where we used to live."
"What happened?"
Beatrice's fingers began trembling.
"We went upstairs."
Valeria waited.
"He got mad because I asked why Mom wanted to leave."
Valeria swallowed.
"What did he do?"
"He made me stand at the top of the stairs."
"Did he push you?"
"No."
Relief lasted less than a second.
"He told me if I ever told people lies about him, accidents happen."
Valeria felt physically sick.
"He said your mother's accident?"
Beatrice nodded.
"Did he say he caused it?"
"No."
"Did he imply it?"
"I don't know."
Valeria held her.
"We don't have to decide what he meant."
That mattered.
Truth mattered.
Damian was abusive.
Controlling.
Cruel.
But Valeria refused to turn suspicion into certainty simply because hatred would make it satisfying.
Catherine's death remained an accident unless evidence proved otherwise.
Damian had done enough without inventing more.
At the next hearing, Renee testified.
She recommended Beatrice remain temporarily with Valeria pending a full custody assessment.
Damian stared straight ahead.
When the judge granted the recommendation, Beatrice began crying.
Valeria squeezed her hand.
Damian's attorney asked for visitation.
Renee recommended supervised contact only.
The judge agreed.
Outside court, Damian approached.
Marcus stepped between them.
Damian ignored him.
He looked at Beatrice.
"You really did this?"
Beatrice moved closer to Valeria.
Damian's face changed.
"You stood in court and lied about your own father."
"Do not speak to her," Marcus said.
Damian laughed.
"She's my daughter."
Valeria stepped forward.
"Then start acting like her father."
Damian looked at her.
"You think you won?"
"No."
"You have no idea what you started."
"Actually, I do."
Damian's voice dropped.
"You took my daughter."
Valeria's eyes hardened.
"I gave her somewhere safe to stand."
Damian's jaw tightened.
"You will regret humiliating me."
Marcus immediately said, "That's enough."
Damian walked away.
That evening, the house felt different.
Safe, but unfamiliar.
Valeria had changed the locks.
Installed temporary security.
Moved Damian's belongings into storage under legal supervision.
Elliot helped Beatrice choose a movie.
They ordered pizza.
For two hours, they almost felt normal.
Then Beatrice received a message.
Unknown number.
She opened it.
A photograph appeared.
It showed Valeria standing outside the courthouse that morning.
Taken from across the street.
Beneath it were six words.
SHE CANNOT WATCH YOU EVERY SECOND.
Beatrice screamed.
Valeria took the phone.
Elliot came running.
Valeria called Marcus.
Police traced the number.
Prepaid.
Unregistered.
Damian denied sending it.
There was no immediate proof.
But another photograph arrived ten minutes later.
This one showed Elliot through the living room window.
Taken moments earlier.
May you like
Valeria looked toward the darkness outside.
Someone was watching the house.
