Chapter 7
The first court hearing was brutal.
Vanessa wore a cream dress and no makeup.
She looked like a frightened mother.
If I had not seen the video, I might have believed her.
That realization terrified me.
Her attorney claimed she had been traumatized by seeing her child in danger and had wrongly blamed Maria in panic.
The prosecutor played Mr. Alvarez’s video.
Vanessa behind the stroller.
The brake.
The roll.
Maria running.
The jump.
The rescue.
Then they played the backyard audio from the neighbor’s phone after.
Vanessa saying, “She did it.”
Without asking once if Noah was breathing.
The judge’s face hardened.
Then the prosecutor read the Elise messages.
Something frightening, not fatal.
The courtroom changed.
Even Vanessa’s attorney looked down.
Bail was set high.
No contact with Noah.
No contact with Maria.
No return to the house.
No access to security systems or records.
Vanessa cried when the judge said she could not see Noah.
I wanted to feel something.
I did.
May you like
Rage.
Because those tears had arrived only after consequences.
