Chapter 7 - The Cage Before Pippa
The metal crate belonged to Archie.
Large enough for an adult Labrador.
Archie had slept in it voluntarily with the door open.
After the dog left, I told Camilla we should return the crate.
She said her sister would collect it.
Weeks passed.
I forgot.
The crate stayed folded in the garage.
According to Pippa, Camilla brought it into the backyard during my first overnight business trip after Archie left.
“Why?” the child interviewer asked.
Pippa said:
“Because naughty bed.”
That phrase entered the official record.
Naughty bed.
The investigator asked:
“Did you sleep there?”
“Yes.”
“Door open or closed?”
“Closed.”
“Could you get out?”
“No.”
“What happened if you cried?”
“Camilla says stop.”
No adult should rely entirely on a five-year-old’s memory without corroboration.
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Investigators knew that.
So they looked.
