Ben’s face hardened.
« That never happened. »
» I know. «
« What evidence did she have? » she asked.
« She showed me a photo that was supposed to prove it. You’re holding Sophie near the stairs and your hand is raised. »
I remembered that photo.
Sophie was two years old.
She had slipped while going up the stairs, and I had caught her by the back of her dress.
Diane had taken the photo from the hallway.
« She put her in her place, » I said.
Carla nodded.
« Later, I found the original on your digital photo frame. I realized she had retouched it. »
« Did you talk to him about it? »
» Yes. «
« What did she say? »
« That I was too naive to protect a child. »
Carla’s voice was trembling.
« Then she told me that the agency would ruin my reputation if I accused a respected family member without proof. »
That evening, Carla called the agency.
The director pressured her to resign discreetly and subsequently offered her an amicable settlement.
« Why did you accept it? » asked Ben.
« I had rent to pay, student loans to repay, and I didn’t have a job. They promised me that this agreement would just prevent me from publicly denouncing your family. »
« But it was written that we shouldn’t contact the police, » I replied.
» I know. «
She looked unhappy.
« I should have refused. »
« And what about the other nannies? »
« I spoke to two of them before the agency forbade us from communicating. It was Diane who contacted all of us. »
Everything suddenly became clear.
Each nanny only lasted a few days because Diane needed time to scare them. The cameras didn’t show anything because she knew how to avoid them. Sophie had never talked about these visits because she thought seeing Grandma was normal.
When we got home, Ben called his mother.
« Can you come by tomorrow? » he asked her.
« Of course. Is there a problem? »
« No. We need help with Sophie. »
The relaxed tone of his voice gave me goosebumps.
« I knew those babysitters weren’t reliable, » Diane said. « I told you that agency was negligent. »
After the call, Ben looked at me.
« It’s as if she thinks she hasn’t done anything wrong. »
« Perhaps. »
That’s what scared me the most.
We contacted two other former babysitters.
One of them refused to speak.
Another woman, named Julia, agreed after Carla assured her that the truth was known.
Julia’s story corresponded almost exactly to Carla’s.
Diane showed him old medical records, distorted photos, and audio clips from the months following Sophie’s birth.
« Where did she find these recordings? » I asked.
« She said that Ben had given them to her. »
Ben turned pale.
« I never gave him anything. »
Then he remembered an old tablet that had been used as a baby monitor. Diane had borrowed it when Sophie was a baby and returned it a few weeks later.
The recordings were still supposed to be there.
« Why did the agency send the checks? » asked Ben.
Julia laughed bitterly.
« To protect their reputation. »
The agency had received complaints about other placements, although Diane was not involved in all of them.
Instead of investigating anything that could have led to public accusations, she quietly paid her employees to leave.
« They told me that families paid to keep it discreet, » Julia said. « They said that nannies who caused scandals never worked again. »
« So everyone fell silent, » I said.
« Most of us were afraid. »
When Diane arrived the following afternoon, we had a plan.
Ben was wearing the wig and glasses he had used for the interview at the agency. From a distance, he looked surprisingly convincing as Megan.
I hid my car several blocks away and waited in the guest room closet, recording with my phone.
Sophie spent the day with my sister.
Diane entered through the side door without knocking.
She called out softly: « Hello? »
Ben went out into the corridor.
« You must be Megan. »
Diane smiled.
« I am Sophie’s grandmother. »
She didn’t recognize him.
The wig, the loose cardigan, and the oversized glasses had changed much more than just his appearance. Ben had spent a week practicing speaking in a softer voice and adopting a more polished posture.
Diane glanced towards the living room camera.
« Could we talk somewhere more private? »
Ben followed her into the guest room.
I watched them through a small crack in the closet door.
Diane took a large folder out of her handbag.
« I imagine the agency told you it was a simple job. »
» It’s true. «
« They don’t know the whole story. »
She opened the file.
« My stepdaughter likes Sophie very much. »
Ben nodded.
« But love isn’t always enough. »
Diane showed him my therapy files.
« Emma has a troubled past. »
« Is she dangerous? »
Diane hesitated just long enough to give the impression of being reluctant.
« It can happen. »
« Has she ever hurt Sophie? »
« Not in a way that can be proven. »
Diane slid the cropped photo of the staircase onto the bed.
Ben examined it.
« What am I looking at? »
« Emma is losing control. »
« Was there anyone else there? »
« I’m the one who took the photo. »
« You saw her hurt Sophie and you didn’t intervene? »
Diane stiffened.
« It all happened very quickly. »
Ben turned to another page.
« It says that Emma finished her treatment and left the hospital five years ago. »
« People relapse. »
« Is that the case for him? »
« Not officially. »
Ben looked at her.
« Then why are you telling me she’s dangerous? »
Diane lowered her voice.
« Because all the nannies before you let their guard down. They loved Emma. They believed her. »
« What happened to them? »
« They resigned. »
« Did you push them to resign? »
« I encouraged them to protect themselves. »
« And the agency paid them? »
For the first time, Diane looked troubled.
« What do you know about it? »
Ben took off his glasses.
Then he took off his wig.
His mother stared at him.
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