Chapter 7 - THE CHILD WHO HID IN THE GARDEN
The breakthrough came during a drawing session.
Dr. Chen was present.
Becca sat nearby.
The girls were drawing houses.
Nova drew a window.
Stella drew a tree.
Luna drew a small figure beneath the tree.
Dr. Chen asked gently:
"Would you like to tell me about your picture?"
Luna nodded.
"Annie."
"Where is Annie?"
Luna pointed to the tree.
"Was she hiding?"
A nod.
"Do you remember why?"
Luna's hands began shaking.
Dr. Chen paused.
"You don't have to tell us."
After several minutes, Stella whispered:
"Bad man."
Becca felt her stomach tighten.
Dr. Chen remained calm.
"Would you like to say more?"
Stella shook her head.
Nova drew flames around the house.
Then a door.
Then a triangle.
She whispered:
"Annie showed us."
Dr. Chen looked at the drawing.
"Showed you what?"
Nova pointed to the triangle.
"Way out."
Silence filled the room.
Later, Dr. Chen explained that the girls appeared to associate Annie with an escape route.
The triangle might represent three connected garden paths.
Or three landmarks.
Or simply a symbol Annie had used to reassure them.
Valentino examined old property plans.
Then stopped.
Behind the summer house was a formal garden.
Three stone paths formed a triangle around a fountain.
He looked at Becca.
"That's where they played."
Becca stared at the plan.
"Then maybe Annie was telling them where to go."
Valentino called his attorney.
"Find every surviving record from the fire investigation."
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And for the first time, the possibility emerged that Annie had not caused the girls' fear.
She might have been the reason they survived.
