“It all started after Bethany was born” Mrs. Parker began. “Before that Debra was a dream child. She was a little shy, but really sweet. She never disobeyed us” She glanced at Mr. Parker, who took over.
“That all changed when Beth was born” Mr. Parker continued. “Deb would cry all the time, especially when Beth cried. When Beth was hungry, she was hungry. When Beth was hurting, she was hurting. Sometimes she even came to us with cuts and bruises and when we asked how she got them, she would say Beth had done it”
“Of course we thought it was just a scream for attention. Sister rivalry” Mrs. Parker said. “After all, Deb was only two years old at the time. We believed that with time she would learn to love her younger sister”
“But that didn’t happen?” Ryan guessed frowning.
“Not exactly, no” Mrs. Parker said. “It only got worse. When Deb became a teenager she started stealing things. Money, from me and my husband. Toys from her sister. One day, it was Deb’s fourteenth birthday we invited a good friend of us over, Dale. He doesn’t have any children, but he loves each and every one as though they were his. He had a soft spot for Deb. So, I asked him if he could try to talk to her. Maybe she would tell him what was bothering her so much. Because Harry and I were desperate”
“Did she tell…Dale what was wrong?” Ryan asked.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker glanced at each other.
“I know they talked” Mr. Parker said reluctant. “But when I asked Deb about their conversation, she…”
“What?” Ryan insisted.
“She said Dale had touched her” Mr. Parker quickly finished.
Ryan’s expression didn’t change, but his insides were boiling. No wonder Deb had trust issues.
“We confronted Dale with that information. He denied of course. We took Deb to the police station, where they examined her. Not because we didn’t believe her, but because we needed proof. They didn’t find any. We asked Deb if she was sure about her accusation. Maybe Dale had given her a hug and she had it taken it the wrong way” Mrs. Parker went on.
“Had she taken it the wrong way?” Ryan asked with raised eyebrows.
“She said nothing happened. She said she and Dale had talked and that was that. I went back to Dale and asked him again if he had hurt our daughter. He denied again and suggested that we had Deb tested” Mrs. Parker replied. “So, we took her to a hospital, where they ran some psychological tests” She looked Ryan straight in the eyes. “Deb has a personality disorder. She can’t see truth from lies. She believes that everything she says is true, but ninety percent are lies. There’s a reason why Beth isn’t here. Deb has hurt her very much by lying to her all the time”
Ryan stood and rubbed his tired eyes.
“I have to go take a walk” he said.
“That all changed when Beth was born” Mr. Parker continued. “Deb would cry all the time, especially when Beth cried. When Beth was hungry, she was hungry. When Beth was hurting, she was hurting. Sometimes she even came to us with cuts and bruises and when we asked how she got them, she would say Beth had done it”
“Of course we thought it was just a scream for attention. Sister rivalry” Mrs. Parker said. “After all, Deb was only two years old at the time. We believed that with time she would learn to love her younger sister”
“But that didn’t happen?” Ryan guessed frowning.
“Not exactly, no” Mrs. Parker said. “It only got worse. When Deb became a teenager she started stealing things. Money, from me and my husband. Toys from her sister. One day, it was Deb’s fourteenth birthday we invited a good friend of us over, Dale. He doesn’t have any children, but he loves each and every one as though they were his. He had a soft spot for Deb. So, I asked him if he could try to talk to her. Maybe she would tell him what was bothering her so much. Because Harry and I were desperate”
“Did she tell…Dale what was wrong?” Ryan asked.
Mr. and Mrs. Parker glanced at each other.
“I know they talked” Mr. Parker said reluctant. “But when I asked Deb about their conversation, she…”
“What?” Ryan insisted.
“She said Dale had touched her” Mr. Parker quickly finished.
Ryan’s expression didn’t change, but his insides were boiling. No wonder Deb had trust issues.
“We confronted Dale with that information. He denied of course. We took Deb to the police station, where they examined her. Not because we didn’t believe her, but because we needed proof. They didn’t find any. We asked Deb if she was sure about her accusation. Maybe Dale had given her a hug and she had it taken it the wrong way” Mrs. Parker went on.
“Had she taken it the wrong way?” Ryan asked with raised eyebrows.
“She said nothing happened. She said she and Dale had talked and that was that. I went back to Dale and asked him again if he had hurt our daughter. He denied again and suggested that we had Deb tested” Mrs. Parker replied. “So, we took her to a hospital, where they ran some psychological tests” She looked Ryan straight in the eyes. “Deb has a personality disorder. She can’t see truth from lies. She believes that everything she says is true, but ninety percent are lies. There’s a reason why Beth isn’t here. Deb has hurt her very much by lying to her all the time”
Ryan stood and rubbed his tired eyes.
“I have to go take a walk” he said.