Chương 6
Daniel looked at Caroline as if she had changed languages halfway through the sentence.
“What does approved mean?”
“It means I have to make decisions based on what I can verify tonight.”
“This is my sister.”
“I understand.”
“No, I don’t think you do.”
Mara opened the screen door behind him.
“You can verify me.”
Caroline shifted her attention to her.
“I’m assuming you’re Mara Mercer?”
“Ellison.”
Mara wiped her palms on her jeans.
“Mara Ellison, and before you ask, yes, I own the house, no, nobody else lives here, and yes, you can look wherever you need to look.”
The man near the walkway came closer but remained below the porch.
Caroline gave Mara a tired, almost appreciative nod.
“We’ll get to that.”
Daniel stepped sideways, blocking her view through the door without consciously meaning to.
“What happens to Lily while you ‘get to that’?”
“That depends on the interviews.”
“She stays with me.”
Caroline held his gaze.
“I hope that can happen.”
“Hope?”
“Mr. Mercer, I’m not trying to frighten you.”
“You’re doing a pretty good job.”
“I’m trying not to promise something before I have enough information to make that promise.”
The man beside her introduced himself as Aaron Pike and said he worked with Caroline.
His voice was softer than hers, and Daniel immediately distrusted the contrast even though he knew that was unfair.
Inside, a chair scraped.
Lily appeared behind the screen.
“Dad?”
Daniel turned.
“I’m right here.”
“Am I in trouble?”
“No.”
Caroline’s eyes moved to Daniel before he could say anything else.
He understood the warning in them.
Do not coach her.
Do not answer questions you cannot answer.
He hated her for that look, then hated himself because she had not actually done anything wrong.
Mara opened the door wider.
“Everybody should come inside before my neighbors decide I’m running a meth lab.”
Aaron glanced at the immaculate flower boxes beneath the windows.
“Wouldn’t be my first surprise tonight.”
Mara looked at him.
“That was almost a joke.”
“Long day.”
“You’re forgiven once.”
The ordinary exchange loosened something in the room when they entered, but only for a moment.
Caroline asked Mara if there was somewhere private where she could speak with Lily.
“The blue bedroom upstairs.”
Daniel said, “I’m coming.”
Caroline shook her head.
“No.”
“She’s eight.”
“I know.”
“She’s frightened.”
“I know that too.”
“Then I’m not sending her upstairs alone with a stranger.”
Caroline crouched several feet from Lily.
“You don’t have to go anywhere with me until I explain what we’re doing.”
Lily held her backpack against her stomach.
“Are you police?”
“No.”
“Can you arrest Vanessa?”
“No.”
“Can he?”
She pointed at Aaron.
Aaron shook his head.
“I can’t arrest anybody.”
Lily looked disappointed.
Daniel wished she had looked relieved.
Caroline explained that she talked to children when adults were worried something unsafe might be happening at home.
She used plain words and did not promise confidentiality.
She told Lily that some things Lily said might have to be shared with other people whose job was to help decide what happened next.
Lily listened with a concentration that made her look older.
“Do I have to tell you?”
Caroline said, “I would like you to.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Mara looked at Daniel.
For half a second, despite everything, he heard Rachel in the question.
Caroline seemed to hear something too, because the corner of her mouth moved.
“No, you don’t have to talk to me.”
Lily considered that.
“Can I stop if I don’t like it?”
“Yes.”
“Can Dad wait outside the door?”
Caroline looked at Daniel.
“He can wait downstairs.”
Lily’s face tightened.
Daniel crouched beside her.
“I’ll be here.”
“What if they make me go somewhere?”
The room went still.
Daniel started to answer.
Caroline spoke first.
“Nobody is taking you anywhere without telling you what is happening.”
Lily looked at her.
“That’s not the same.”
“No,” Caroline said.
“It isn’t.”
Daniel appreciated her then, unwillingly.
Lily finally agreed.
She took the backpack upstairs with her.
Daniel watched until her feet disappeared beyond the landing.
Caroline followed.
The blue bedroom door closed softly.
Daniel stood beneath the stairs listening to nothing.
Aaron remained in the living room.
Mara began collecting dinner plates because apparently dishes were the only problem in the house she could solve.
“Mr. Mercer, I need to ask you some questions.”
Daniel did not turn.
“Daniel.”
“All right, Daniel.”
Aaron sat in an armchair but left the couch open.
Daniel remained standing.
“When did you become aware that Vanessa might be physically disciplining Lily?”
“About two hours ago.”
“Before today, did Lily ever tell you Vanessa hit or grabbed her?”
“No.”
“Did you ever see injuries?”
“No.”
Aaron waited.
Daniel heard the qualification hiding in his own answer.
“At least I didn’t recognize anything as an injury.”
“What does that mean?”
“She bruises easily.”
Mara stopped at the kitchen doorway.
Daniel looked at her.
She said nothing.
“Kids get bruises,” Daniel continued.
“She rides a bike, climbs trees, falls off things.”
“Any bruises you couldn’t explain?”
Daniel rubbed his forehead.
“There was one on her upper arm in July.”
“Which arm?”
“I don’t remember.”
“What did Lily say happened?”
“She said she bumped into the bathroom door.”
“And you believed her?”
“Yes.”
Mara set the plates down too hard.
Daniel turned.
“What?”
She looked at Aaron.
“Am I allowed to say something?”
“You can tell me anything you think is relevant.”
Mara crossed her arms.
“She stopped changing clothes in front of me this summer.”
Daniel stared at her.
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“June?”
“Maybe July.”
“And you’re telling me now?”
“I didn’t know it meant anything.”
“You keep saying that.”
“Because I didn’t.”
Aaron raised one hand.
“Daniel.”
“I’m talking to my sister.”
“And I need the conversation not to turn into an argument.”
Daniel laughed once without humor.
“Good luck.”
Aaron waited until he sat.
May you like
Then he asked about Daniel’s work.
Daniel explained the travel, usually two or three nights a month, occasionally more during contract season.
