PART 10

The first photograph Brenda had taken became more important than I expected.

Investigators obtained the image through lawful procedures, and its timestamp placed it after Hailey’s fall, not before.

It showed a frightened child with a bandage already pressed to her face.

Brenda had used the photograph in a message to a relative, describing Hailey as reckless and claiming she’d injured herself while refusing to follow instructions.

The relative replied with sympathy for Brenda.