King exchanged a weighted glance with Callahan. Something passed between them that I couldn't read. My stomach churned.
King flipped another page in the folder and pushed a glossy photograph at us. The blue cover of Leah's diary, every inch covered in drawings and sketches in colored ink. "We've also reviewed Leah's phone, computer, and her diary. Her mother gave it to us earlier this week."
Mia's shoulders hunched. Her breathing went shallow.
"There are multiple entries documenting extensive bullying. Did you participate?"
"No, of course not! Leah was my friend."
"You let it happen, though," Callahan said.
Mia's voice was a frayed thread. "I didn't do any of it!"
"But you didn't stop it."
"I…I'm sorry."
Callahan leaned forward. "Did Leah tell you she was keeping records of what her bullies were doing?"
"No. I mean, I guess. I know she wrote about stuff in the diary."
"Plus, you’d witnessed it."
Mia winced. "Yes."
Callahan asked, "Were you worried that whatever Leah said might implicate you? That your silence made you complicit?"
Mia's hands twisted in her lap. "No! I… I'm the one who told my mom where Leah hid the diary! I didn't help her, I know, but I didn't hurt her. I wasn't like the others."
"But if Leah exposed the bullying," Callahan continued, "your name would be in that story, too."
Camille cut in sharply. "Detective, you're testifying again. Ask a question or move on."
Mia shook her head hard. "That's not why… If I tried to protect Leah, they'd turn on me, too, okay? I wasn't upset about the diary. I already knew about it."
King nodded. "Okay, Mia, did Leah seem angry with you? In the days before she died?"
Mia's voice was barely audible. "No. I don't think so."
"Was anyone angry with Leah? Upset enough to hurt her?"
"I—I don't know."
"Leah documented months of harassment. Did she tell you she was planning to report it?"
"I don't know."
"Did she confront the other girls at the slumber party? Tell them she was going to report their behavior? Were they angry with her? Anyone in particular?"
Mia fidgeted, clearly agitated. "No! I don't know. I don't remember."
Camille cleared her throat. "My client has more than thoroughly answered your questions on this topic. Move along."
King said, "We conducted multiple searches of the bluff area and the Westinghouse home. We have not found your camera."
"I don't know where it is," Mia said.
"Is it possible," King said slowly, "that you went back out to the bluff to look for it? After everyone was asleep?"
