Ryan Saw Vanessa Holding Their Crying Daughter in the Kitchen — Then Emma Pointed at the Security Camera
Chapter 3 — The Blue Backpack
Vanessa shook her head.
“It isn’t what you think.”
Ryan looked at Emma.
“What did you see?”
Emma swallowed.
“Mom told me not to tell.”
Ryan’s face hardened.
“Tell me now.”
Emma pointed toward the pantry.
“The blue backpack.”
Ryan frowned.
He walked toward the pantry and opened the door.
On the floor behind several shopping bags sat a dark blue backpack he had never seen before.
Vanessa immediately stepped forward.
“Ryan, leave that alone.”
He picked it up.
It was heavier than expected.
Inside were several sealed envelopes.
A notebook.
Two prepaid phones.
And a stack of grocery gift cards.
Ryan stared at them.
“What is this?”
Vanessa lowered her voice.
“I can explain.”
Emma suddenly spoke.
“Those are Mrs. Coleman’s.”
Ryan looked at her.
“Who?”
“The lady from school.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Emma’s elementary school employed a family-support coordinator named Linda Coleman.
She managed emergency food cards, clothing vouchers, and donated funds for families in temporary hardship.
Ryan had met her twice.
“Why do you have her backpack?”
Vanessa sat down.
“Because Linda asked me to keep it.”
“Why?”
“Because somebody was stealing from the school assistance program.”
Ryan looked at the gift cards again.
“And you didn’t think I should know about this?”
Vanessa shook her head.
“That’s not the part I was hiding.”
Ryan stared at her.
“Then what were you hiding?”
Emma answered before her mother could.
“Mom knows who was taking them.”
