Barbara’s birthday decorations were already tied to the porch railing next door, because she lived only three houses away.
Gold balloons floated above a banner announcing her sixtieth birthday.
As Andrew was placed in the back of a patrol car, Barbara came running down the street in slippers and a silk robe.
“What are you doing to my son?”
She pushed past one of the officers and pointed at me.
“This is her fault.
She has always been unstable.”
Detective Reynolds stepped onto the porch.
“Mrs.Carter, we need to speak with you about a phone call you just made.”
Barbara froze.
“What phone call?”
“The one in which you instructed your son to destroy evidence.”
Her face lost its color.
Then she turned on me.
“You trapped me.”
“I was at the hospital with my child,” I said.
“You called him.”
She opened her mouth, but no words came out.
The officers asked her to accompany them for questioning.
She refused until Reynolds explained that they would obtain a warrant for her house and seize every phone, computer, and document connected to Andrew.
Barbara’s anger changed into fear.
“I didn’t know he was going to hurt Katie,” she said quickly.
“I only helped with the paperwork.”
Andrew, seated inside the patrol car, lifted his head.
Reynolds did not react.
“What paperwork?”
Barbara realized too late that she had admitted involvement.
She glanced toward Andrew, perhaps expecting him to save her.
