Chapter 3 - The Interrogation
While I stayed by Lily’s side, the machinery of the law moved with terrifying speed.
Patricia and Claire were escorted from the lake club in the back of a police cruiser—not in handcuffs initially, but under strict detention for questioning. Daniel followed in his own car, frantic, calling every lawyer he knew, only to discover that no reputable firm in Seattle was willing to touch a child endangerment and medical neglect case involving a nearly fatal anaphylactic shock.
At 7:30 p.m., Officer Miller returned to the hospital to update me.
He pulled up a chair beside my temporary cot in the corner of Lily’s room, keeping his voice low so as not to disturb her as she dozed.
“Your mother-in-law tried to claim it was an accident,” Officer Miller said, shaking his head in disgust. “She told the investigating officers that Lily is prone to exaggeration and that they had ‘everything under control.’ Then we showed her the school nurse’s voicemail transcript and Claire’s text message.”
“How did she react?” I asked.
“She stopped talking,” Miller replied. “Once she realized the text proved they knew Lily was in distress and chose to leave her anyway, her lawyer advised her to remain silent. But Daniel... Daniel is a complete mess. He’s finally realizing that his mother’s arrogance just destroyed his entire life.”
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“He let them do it,” I said softly, looking at my sleeping daughter. “For six years, he let them treat Lily like an unwelcome guest. Tonight is just the bill coming due.”
“Well, the total is going to be staggering,” Miller said, standing up and handing me a copy of the police report. “CPS has placed an emergency protective hold on the household, meaning Patricia and Claire cannot come within five hundred yards of Lily. And as for your husband... well, let’s just say he’s discovering who holds the real power in that family.”
