Chapter 5 - Laura’s First Lie
Laura arrived at the hospital wearing sunglasses and a sweater too clean for a woman who claimed she had been searching all morning.
Brian came with her.
Red pickup keys clipped to his belt.
Daniel saw them through the emergency room glass and felt his hands curl.
Sheriff Morgan stepped in front of him.
“Let us handle the first contact.”
Laura rushed toward the nurses’ desk.
“My mother is here. Helen Parker. I’m her daughter.”
Her voice broke at the right moment.
Her hand went to her chest.
Her eyes filled with tears.
It would have worked if the sheriff had not already seen the pit.
Sheriff Morgan said, “Mrs. McKenzie.”
Laura turned.
Her face changed when she saw him.
Just a flicker.
Then gone.
“Sheriff. Thank God. Daniel called me saying crazy things. What happened?”
Daniel stood behind the sheriff.
Laura looked at him.
“Daniel, why would you scare everyone like this?”
Daniel said nothing.
The sheriff asked, “When did you last see your mother?”
Laura blinked.
“This morning.”
“Where?”
“At my house.”
“What time?”
“Around eight.”
Sheriff Morgan looked at his notes.
“Your brother found her in a dry pit off Old Mill Road at 8:14.”
Laura’s mouth opened.
Brian stepped in.
“She wanders.”
Daniel laughed once.
It sounded ugly even to himself.
Laura shot him a look.
Brian continued.
“She gets confused. Laura’s been under a lot of stress caring for her.”
Sheriff Morgan looked at Laura.
“Did you report her missing?”
Laura hesitated.
“I was going to.”
“When?”
“I didn’t know she was gone until—”
Daniel cut in.
“You told me she was safe with you while I was looking at her in the pit.”
Laura’s face went pale.
Brian snapped, “You recorded that?”
Sheriff Morgan looked at him.
“Interesting concern.”
Brian’s jaw shut.
Laura began crying harder.
“She must have wandered from the house. She’s been declining. We’ve tried to tell everyone.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“No.”
The sheriff raised a hand to keep him back.
Daniel’s voice shook.
“She left a note. She knew Old Mill Road. She knew Laura knew it.”
Laura’s eyes widened.
“What note?”
The sheriff watched her closely.
Daniel pulled up the photo.
Laura stared at the handwriting.
For one second, she looked furious.
Not frightened.
Furious that Helen had left evidence.
Then she recovered.
“Mom writes strange things now.”
A doctor entered the hallway.
“Helen Parker is asking for Daniel.”
Laura stepped forward.
“I’m her daughter.”
The doctor looked at the sheriff.
Then at Daniel.
“She specifically requested Daniel.”
Laura’s face hardened.
Brian muttered, “This is ridiculous.”
Sheriff Morgan said, “Mrs. McKenzie, Mr. McKenzie, we’ll need formal statements from both of you.”
Laura looked toward the treatment area.
“Can I see my mother?”
The sheriff’s answer was calm.
“Not yet.”
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That was the first time Daniel saw Laura realize the story might not belong to her anymore.
👉 Laura tried to call it wandering, but Helen had asked for Daniel—and the first crack in Laura’s performance showed before she even reached the hospital room.
