Chapter 5: The Maid's Confession
Chapter 5: The Maid's Confession
Officer Ortiz turned her body camera on, its blinking green light recording the bloody kitchen tiles, the broken teeth, and Vanessa sitting rigidly in her wrinkled red dress.
Vanessa immediately launched into her defense, her voice trembling with manufactured sorrow.
"Officer, my mother-in-law is suffering from dementia. She became paranoid while Marcus was away. I’ve sacrificed everything to take care of her, and now I’m being blamed for a tragic fall!"
Officer Ortiz listened calmly, her notebook in hand.
"I see," Ortiz said. "And how do you explain the older, yellowing bruises on her arms, Mrs. Hale?"
"She... she bruises easily. She stumbles a lot," Vanessa stumbled over her words.
"And the strong smell of bleach? Why were you mopping the floor before calling for help?"
"I panicked! I just... I wanted to clean up the blood so Marcus wouldn't see it and get upset."
Before Vanessa could dig her hole any deeper, a quiet voice spoke from the hallway entrance.
"That is a lie."
Everyone turned. Standing by the laundry room door was Ana Morales, the daytime housekeeper. She was pale, her hands shaking as she clutched a dish towel.
Officer Ortiz stepped toward her.
"Ma'am, did you see what happened here today?"
Ana’s eyes darted fearfully toward Vanessa, who was glaring at her with lethal intensity.
"I... I don't want any trouble," Ana whispered.
Marcus stepped forward, his heart breaking for what his mother must have endured.
"Ana, please," Marcus begged softly. "An old woman is going to the hospital. Please tell the truth."
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Tears streamed down Ana’s face as the dam broke.
"She kept her locked away, Sergeant Hale," Ana sobbed, pointing a shaking finger at Vanessa. "As soon as your deployment started, Vanessa moved your mother out of the guest room and into the small pantry storage room in the back."
