Chapter 3 - The False Narrative
I did not hesitate for another second before pulling out my own phone and dialing the police.
“We need to leave this house right now, Maria,” I said, rushing back to the hallway where she held Lily.
Within ten minutes, flashing red and blue lights illuminated our dark driveway.
Two officers stepped out of their cruiser, their hands resting cautiously on their duty belts.
I ran out to meet them, desperately trying to explain everything that had just happened.
“My wife attacked our baby, locked us in a room, and left behind a burner phone with a threatening message,” I stammered quickly.
The older officer held up a hand to stop me, his expression cold and skeptical.
“Daniel Bennett?” the officer asked, stepping closer to me and shining his flashlight directly into my eyes.
“Yes, that is me, please, you have to find my wife before whoever sent that text arrives,” I pleaded.
The younger officer unclipped his radio and stepped onto my porch, looking through the open door.
“Mister Bennett, we actually received a frantic call from your wife about twenty minutes ago,” the older officer stated.
I froze, completely utterly confused by what he was telling me.
“She called you?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
“Yes, she claimed you were having a violent psychotic break and attacking the staff,” the officer replied firmly.
“That is a complete lie, she hurt our daughter, I have it all on the nursery camera!” I yelled, pulling out my phone.
I quickly opened the security app to show them the undeniable proof of Claire’s cruelty.
The app loaded, but the entire storage drive was completely empty.
All the footage, including the horrifying video of Claire hurting Lily, had been remotely wiped clean.
“Where is the burner phone you mentioned?” the officer asked, narrowing his eyes at my empty hands.
I patted my pockets frantically, realizing in my panic that I had left it on the coffee table.
May you like
I ran inside to grab it, but the black phone was no longer sitting on the glass surface.
Someone else had been inside the house while we were waiting in the driveway.
