Chapter 2: The Missing Night
The judge's gavel struck once.
“Quiet.””
Nobody spoke.
Damon remained frozen in his chair.
His daughter's words kept repeating inside his head.
You were awake.
He looked at Avery.
She had curled into herself in the witness chair, both hands gripping the straps of her backpack.
“Avery,” Damon said carefully, “I don't understand.””
She stared at him.
“You said you didn't.””
“I don't.””
Monique suddenly sat down.
Her confidence was gone.
Judge Harris looked from Damon to Avery.
“Mr. Carter, do you know what night she is referring to?””
Damon opened his mouth.
Nothing came out.
Keisha touched his sleeve.
“Damon?””
He pulled his arm away without meaning to.
Keisha immediately withdrew her hand.
Her expression hurt, but she said nothing.
Judge Harris turned to Avery.
“Sweetheart, you don't have to explain everything right now. But I need to understand one thing.””
Avery nodded weakly.
“Was this recorder made recently?””
“No.””
“When?””
Avery looked at her mother.
“Last year.””
Monique stood again.
“Your Honor, this is absurd. A child could have been coached.””
“I wasn't coached,” Avery said.
Monique's face tightened.
“Avery—”
“You told me nobody would believe me.””
“I never said that.””
The words came too quickly.
Judge Harris noticed.
“So you deny making that statement?””
“Yes.””
“Then we have a factual dispute.””
Monique crossed her arms.
“She doesn't understand what she recorded.””
Avery's voice became small.
“I understand.””
Damon closed his eyes.
Something about the date had begun to bother him.
Last year.
There had been a night.
He knew that.
He remembered coming home late.
He remembered rain against the windows.
He remembered Avery's backpack lying on the kitchen floor.
He remembered Monique being there.
Then—
Nothing.
A blank space.
Not an ordinary forgotten detail.
A wall.
Keisha leaned toward him.
“What are you thinking?””
Damon whispered, “I don't know.””
“You look like you've seen a ghost.””
“I said I don't know.””
Judge Harris heard him.
“Mr. Carter, I want you to remain calm.””
“I am calm.””
“You are shaking.””
Damon looked down.
His hands were trembling.
Judge Harris nodded toward the recorder.
“Can we hear the remainder?””
Avery immediately shook her head.
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I stopped it.””
“Why did you stop it?””
Avery looked at Damon.
“Because Dad came in.””
Damon's heart pounded.
“What happened after I came in?””
Avery's face crumpled.
“I don't remember everything.””
Monique whispered, “Exactly.””
Avery turned toward her.
“But I remember enough.””
Monique's jaw tightened.
Judge Harris looked at the recorder again.
“Is there more?””
Avery nodded.
“There are three more recordings.””
Damon stared at her.
“Three?””
Avery reached into the backpack again.
She pulled out another memory card.
Monique stepped backward.
“Where did you get that?””
Avery answered quietly.
“From your bedroom.””
Monique's face went white.
Damon stood.
“Monique.””
She looked at him.
“I can explain.””
“What did you record?””
“Nothing.””
“Then why does Avery have it?””
“I don't know.””
“You just said—”
Judge Harris struck the gavel.
“Sit down, Mr. Carter.””
Damon slowly lowered himself into his chair.
The courtroom doors remained closed.
Outside, footsteps passed in the hallway.
Inside, nobody moved.
Judge Harris held out her hand.
“Avery, give me the card.””
Avery did.
The judge examined it.
Then she looked at Monique.
“Ms. Carter, I strongly suggest you speak with your attorney before saying anything else.””
Monique's lawyer leaned toward her.
But Monique wasn't listening.
She was staring at Damon.
“You really don't remember?””
Damon felt his blood run cold.
“Remember what?””
Monique's lips parted.
For one second, she looked terrified.
Then her expression hardened.
“You're lying.””
Damon stood again.
“I am not lying.””
“You were there.””
“I know.””
“You heard everything.””
“I don't know what I heard.””
“You watched her.””
Avery covered her ears.
“Stop!””
Judge Harris immediately intervened.
“Enough.””
Monique went silent.
Damon stared at her.
“What did I watch?””
Monique said nothing.
Judge Harris turned to the bailiff.
“Please escort Ms. Carter outside for a moment.””
Monique's attorney protested.
But before Monique could leave, Avery spoke.
“There was someone else.””
Judge Harris stopped.
“Someone else?””
Avery nodded.
“Another person was in the room.””
Damon's voice was barely audible.
“Who?””
Avery looked toward the courtroom door.
Her eyes widened.
“I don't know his name.””
Then the courtroom door handle slowly moved.
May you like
And someone on the other side whispered:
“Avery.””
