I look up at my daughter, the daughter who shares my same eye color, my hair color, my only biological creation. I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it. My mom loved that line, too, or am I only imagining it.

“Your subconscious wanted you to confess. It’s okay, Betsy. We’re here to support you. I’ll visit you all the time in prison.”

Betsy glares. “I don’t ever want to see you again.”

“How silly. I’m your mom. Our bond is forever. It would help if you had talent, something I could be proud of when it comes to you. I still can’t believe you won an award for that ugly painting. The teachers must have felt sorry for you.”

Betsy smiles, like she’s in control. That’s disconcerting.

She leans forward, stares me in the eyes. She never does that. “But you see, Mom, I was with Bo. We have photos together. Poor Mary. The last person she had to see on earth was you. And you pushed her off the cliff. Terrifying.”

I stand up and lunge at my thankless daughter’s throat but the two officers grab my wrists.

Betsy, Bo and David jump like startled babies as I scream, “She’s a liar! They both are lying! They all are.”

Betsy doesn’t seem to be afraid of me right now. She should be, stupid girl.

“No, Mom, we aren’t lying. You know it. Everyone here knows it. A new witness has come forward placing you at the park that day and they have the video of you abusing poor Cash. I mean, you’re the one who wanted the investigation opened up for some reason, I guess so the cops would come after me for Mary’s death, and now you’ve been caught in your own trap.” Betsy shakes her head, still trembling, weak.

“You should be quiet now, Betsy.” I know she’s afraid of the evil-eye look I just gave her, I’ve trained her well.

For some reason, though, she keeps talking. “Of course you showed up that day at the park. Of course you followed us. You must have loved the fact Mary and I were fighting. She didn’t understand the peace I’d found with Bo. I didn’t understand why she’d start a relationship with her birth mother when you were enough to deal with. We would have worked through it all, if you hadn’t killed her.”

I shake my head. I’m pivoting again. “Both of you were out of control. I was trying to help, that’s all, but I wasn’t at the park. I never go there.” I look around the room, trying to find the camera.