Chapter 10 - Alyssa’s Confession in the Interrogation Room
At 5:30 PM, Child Protective Services brought Lucas and Alyssa into the family interview suite at the central precinct.
Because their biological mother lived out of state, CPS had to conduct an emergency safety assessment before determining temporary placement.
Alyssa sat on the couch, clutching a box of tissues, her eyes red and swollen.
“He took our phones,” Alyssa confessed to the social worker, her voice shaking. “On the second day in San Diego, Lucas wanted to call Liam to see how his video game was going. Dad got really mad. He took both of our phones and locked them in the hotel safe.”
“What did he tell you, Alyssa?” the investigator asked gently.
“He told us that Liam was being selfish,” Alyssa sobbed. “He said Liam threw a temper tantrum and demanded to go to Wisconsin to get Grandma’s jewelry instead of coming to the beach with us. He told us never to mention the trip to Liam because Liam would be jealous and try to ruin our Christmas.”
Eleven-year-old Lucas sat beside his sister, his hands balled into tight fists, his jaw clenched with a maturity no eleven-year-old should ever have to carry.
“He lied about everything,” Lucas said, looking the investigator straight in the eye. “He’s been doing this for years. Whenever Evelyn bought Liam something nice, Dad would take it into the garage and hide it or tell Liam it was broken. Dad hated Liam because Liam reminded him that Evelyn had a life before him.”
The social worker documented every single word into the official state record.
Standing behind the one-way glass, I looked at Brandon’s two children.
Despite their father’s monstrous manipulation, they had refused to protect him. They had chosen the truth. They had chosen their little stepbrother.
I opened the door and walked into the interview room.
Lucas and Alyssa looked up, terrified that I would hate them for what their father had done.
Instead, I opened my arms.
May you like
Both children rushed into my embrace, weeping into my shoulders as I held them tight.
“I don't blame you,” I whispered into their hair. “None of this was your fault. You are my family too, and I will make sure you are safe.”
