But he was running out of ways to ask for help.
So he began saving what happened.
At first, he recorded only a few seconds.
A lunchbox being emptied.
A plate being taken away.
A comment about not deserving food.
Then he started recording whenever he sensed Vanessa was about to become angry.
He didn't understand privacy laws or legal evidence.
He was a frightened child trying to remember what was happening and show his father why he was scared.
He saved the original recordings.
He never edited them.
And he gave them simple filenames based on the date.
Tuesday breakfast.
No lunch again.
She threw away my sandwich.
Please don't tell Dad.
By April, the folder contained dozens of recordings and photographs.
Some were short.
Others lasted several minutes.
Together, they showed a pattern Marcus had never imagined existed beneath the surface of his household.
Caleb discovered the recordings in March.
He walked into Jordan's room one afternoon and found him sitting on the floor watching a video.
The screen showed Vanessa pulling a plate away from Jordan at dinner.
Caleb stopped.
"What are you doing?"
Jordan quickly tried to hide the phone.
"Nothing."
Caleb stared.
Then realized what he was seeing.
"Are you recording my mom?"
Jordan's face went pale.
"Please don't tell her."
Caleb frowned.
"You're going to get in so much trouble."
Jordan began trembling.
For a moment, Caleb looked toward the doorway.
Then back at the phone.
He wasn't a cruel boy.
But he'd grown accustomed to the unequal rules in the house.
He knew his mother treated Jordan differently.
Sometimes he told himself there must be a reason.
Other times, he simply avoided thinking about it.
He liked having a stable home.
He liked Marcus.
And he was afraid that questioning his mother might destroy the family.
Now he was looking at a recording that made the difference impossible to deny.
He sat beside Jordan.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then Caleb whispered.
"Did she really take your dinner away?"
Jordan nodded.
Caleb stared at the screen.
The video showed Vanessa removing Jordan's plate while Caleb and Mia continued eating.
He remembered that evening.
He remembered believing his mother when she said Jordan had already eaten earlier.