Chương 6
“No.”
Alvarez nodded.
“That matters.”
“She was crying when I came through the gate.”
“I believe you.”
“But?”
“But believing that doesn’t tell me what happened thirty seconds earlier.”
Vincent looked toward the living room.
Lily sat curled on the couch with her knees under the oversized shirt, watching bright shapes move across the television.
“She told me things tonight.”
Alvarez’s expression changed.
“What things?”
Vincent hesitated.
He hated that hesitation.
Not because he doubted Lily.
Because he suddenly understood that repeating her words could set machinery in motion he could not control.
“She said Vanessa gets mad when she tells.”
Alvarez uncapped her pen again.
“Tells what?”
“She said Vanessa told her she makes Daniel sad.”
“Anything physical?”
“She said Vanessa hit her hand before.”
“How many times?”
“At least two others.”
“Did Lily say that directly?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ask leading questions?”
Vincent bristled.
“I asked what happens when she tells.”
“That’s not what I mean.”
“I know what you mean.”
Alvarez held his gaze.
“Did you suggest answers?”
“No.”
“Did you tell her Vanessa was bad?”
“No.”
“Did you tell her she should stay with you?”
“No.”
Alvarez made another note.
“Good.”
Vincent’s irritation cooled slightly.
“You believe her?”
“That isn’t my job tonight.”
“What is your job?”
“To protect the integrity of what she may say next.”
He frowned.
Alvarez continued.
“Children that age can tell the truth very clearly, but adults can also contaminate memory without intending to.”
“I didn’t.”
“I’m not accusing you.”
“She asked if she had to go home.”
“And what did you say?”
“I said no.”
Alvarez looked down at the page.
“That could become important.”
Vincent leaned forward.
“You think I manipulated her?”
“I think you’re angry.”
“I am.”
“I think you love her.”
“Yes.”
“And I think angry people who love children sometimes answer too quickly.”
Vincent sat back.
The sentence stung because it was fair.
Alvarez closed the pad.
“We need to arrange for Lily to speak with a child forensic interviewer.”
“Tonight?”
“Not tonight.”
“So what happens tonight?”
“That depends on Daniel.”
Vincent’s eyes sharpened.
“What does that mean?”
“As her legal parent, he decides where she stays unless there’s an emergency removal or court order.”
“He knows she’s here.”
“I know.”
“He said she could stay tonight.”
Alvarez studied him.
“He told you that?”
Vincent paused.
Daniel had not.
Not in those words.
“He didn’t object after we spoke.”
“That’s not the same thing.”
Vincent swore under his breath.
Alvarez did not react.
His cell phone rang on the table.
Daniel.
Vincent and Alvarez both looked at the screen.
“Answer it,” she said.
Vincent picked up.
“What?”
Daniel’s voice sounded strained.
“Dad, the police are at Vanessa’s sister’s place.”
“Detective Alvarez is here.”
A pause.
“Oh.”
“What’s happening?”
Daniel exhaled.
“Vanessa left.”
“Left where?”
“She packed a bag.”
Vincent glanced at Alvarez.
“She’s staying with Rachel.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I know.”
Daniel’s voice dropped.
“She said if Lily accuses her of anything else, she wants a lawyer before she answers questions.”
Vincent closed his eyes briefly.
“What did you tell her?”
“Nothing.”
“Daniel.”
“I didn’t defend her.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Another silence.
Then Daniel said, “I told her Lily is staying with you tonight.”
Vincent looked at Alvarez.
She was watching him closely.
“Say that again.”
“I said Lily stays with you tonight.”
Vincent’s shoulders loosened by a fraction.
“And tomorrow?”
Daniel took a long time answering.
“Tomorrow, I come over alone.”
Daniel arrived at eight the next morning carrying a paper bag of clothes for Lily and a cardboard tray with three coffees.
Vincent opened the door and looked at the tray.
“You remembered mine.”
“I remembered you become unbearable without it.”
“I’m unbearable with it.”
“I know.”
Daniel stepped inside.
He wore yesterday’s dark shirt beneath an unzipped gray sweatshirt, and there was a faint purple mark beginning along one side of his jaw.
Vincent looked at it.
Daniel noticed.
“You did that.”
“I’m aware.”
“Just checking.”
Vincent took one of the coffees.
“Where’s Vanessa?”
“At Rachel’s.”
“Did she sleep there?”
“I assume so.”
“You assume?”
“She stopped answering me around midnight.”
Vincent sipped the coffee.
“That sounds healthy.”
Daniel’s mouth tightened.
“I didn’t come here to discuss my marriage with you.”
“No.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“Still asleep.”
Daniel checked his watch.
“At eight?”
“She was up until almost eleven.”
“Why?”
“Police.”
Daniel looked down.
“Right.”
Vincent shut the door.
Detective Alvarez had left a little after nine-thirty the previous night after confirming Daniel’s permission for Lily to remain there.
She had given Vincent instructions that irritated him precisely because they made sense.
Do not question Lily further.
Do not rehearse what happened.
Do not ask whether one thing or another occurred.
Let the trained interviewer do the interviewing.
Vincent had followed those instructions despite waking twice in the night with questions burning holes in his patience.
Daniel placed the paper bag on the entry table.
“I brought her toothbrush.”
“She has one here.”
“Of course she does.”
“And pajamas.”
“She has those too.”
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
“Does she have an entire second life here?”
“Mostly stickers and cereal.”
“That sounds like her.”
They stood without speaking.
Vincent drank his coffee.
Daniel folded the empty cardboard carrier flat with unnecessary concentration.
Finally he said, “I talked to Alvarez again.”
Vincent said nothing.
“She called after she left here.”
“And?”
“She wants me to bring Lily to a child advocacy center Monday morning.”
“That’s what she told me.”
Daniel looked up.
“You’re coming.”
It was not phrased as a request.
Vincent nodded anyway.
“Good.”
Another silence followed.
Daniel rubbed the edge of the flattened carrier.
“I’m not sure what I’m supposed to do before then.”
“Be her father.”
“That’s useful.”
“You asked.”
“I didn’t actually.”
“You were thinking loudly.”
Daniel almost smiled.
Then footsteps sounded overhead.
Both men looked toward the staircase.
May you like
Lily appeared at the top wearing pink pajamas covered in tiny yellow stars.
Her hair stuck out on one side.
