Chương 6
“I don’t know,” Vincent said.
Lily considered the answer, then laid her head back down.
“I want him.”
“You’ll have him.”
Teresa did not object to that promise.
Elaine stepped into the hallway with Dr. Shah for several minutes.
Vincent remained still so Lily could drift back toward sleep.
Marco walked to the vending machines and returned with terrible coffee.
He handed one cup to Teresa.
She tasted it and grimaced.
“This may constitute a second investigation.”
Marco sipped his own.
“You asked for coffee.”
“This is hot regret.”
Vincent almost told them both to be quiet.
Then he saw Lily’s breathing stay even and let the conversation continue.
Ordinary voices seemed to calm her.
Teresa sat again.
“Who knew Lily had that rabbit?”
“Family.”
“Which family?”
Vincent glanced at her.
“You know what I mean.”
“No, I don’t.”
He thought about it.
“Daniel.”
“Rebecca?”
“Yes.”
“House staff?”
“Mine?”
“Either household.”
“Mine, certainly.”
“What about Daniel’s?”
“I wouldn’t know.”
“Preschool?”
“Probably.”
“Caroline’s family?”
Vincent’s expression shifted.
Teresa caught it.
“What?”
“Her sister.”
“Anna?”
“Yes.”
“When did you last speak to her?”
“Caroline’s funeral.”
Teresa stared at him.
“Almost two years?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Vincent’s mouth tightened.
“Because she blamed Daniel.”
“For the accident?”
“For everything.”
“What does that mean?”
“She thought he rushed Caroline that night.”
“Did he?”
“No.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
“Caroline called me before she left.”
Teresa waited.
Vincent looked toward the window.
Snow streaked across the dark glass under the hospital lights.
“She and Daniel had argued.”
“About?”
“Money.”
“What kind of money?”
“Mine.”
Teresa gave him a tired look.
“Of course.”
“Daniel wanted to stop taking help from me.”
“And Caroline?”
“She thought it was stupid to refuse help with a mortgage because two men were measuring their pride.”
“That sounds reasonable.”
“Caroline usually was.”
“What happened?”
“She left the house angry.”
“To drive where?”
“To her sister’s.”
“In heavy rain.”
“Yes.”
“And the crash happened on the way.”
Vincent nodded.
Teresa looked down at the coffee cup.
“So Anna blamed Daniel because Caroline left after an argument.”
“Yes.”
“And Daniel blamed himself.”
Vincent did not answer.
He did not need to.
Daniel had worn guilt badly.
At first it made him quiet.
Then it made him restless.
Then it made him determined to erase every object that reminded him of the night.
He sold Caroline’s car even though it had not been involved in the crash.
He repainted the bedroom.
He boxed her books.
He stopped answering Anna’s calls.
When Vincent objected, Daniel accused him of keeping grief alive because grief gave him something to control.
That was the Thanksgiving fight beneath the Thanksgiving fight.
The one neither man had ever named directly.
Teresa looked toward Lily.
“And Rebecca entered the picture when?”
“Five months after Caroline died.”
“How?”
“Daniel met her through work.”
“Did Anna know?”
“Eventually.”
“Reaction?”
“Bad.”
“How bad?”
“She called Rebecca a replacement before she had ever met her.”
Teresa rubbed her forehead.
“So we have a dead mother’s sister who hates the father, resents the stepmother, knows Lily’s attachment to the rabbit, and has been out of contact with you for nearly two years.”
Vincent turned toward her.
“You think Anna sent it?”
“I think we have more than one person capable of sending a toy.”
Marco spoke quietly from the wall.
“Could she have sent tonight’s text?”
Teresa looked at him.
“Yes.”
Vincent frowned.
“Why anonymously?”
“Because families are insane.”
“That is not legal analysis.”
“It’s twenty-five years of professional observation.”
Elaine returned before Vincent could answer.
She sat down and folded her hands.
“I spoke with the on-call supervisor.”
Vincent felt his body tense.
“For tonight, Lily will not return to Daniel’s home.”
Relief came first.
It was immediate and shamefully satisfying.
Then he saw Elaine’s expression and understood there was more.
“She also cannot leave with you yet.”
Vincent’s relief disappeared.
“Why?”
“Because there is an active allegation involving you assaulting both adults in her presence.”
“They put her outside.”
“I know.”
“And I’m her grandfather.”
“I know that too.”
“So where does she go?”
Elaine did not flinch.
“We’re exploring emergency kinship placement.”
“With whom?”
“That depends on who can be cleared.”
Vincent stood carefully enough not to wake Lily.
“Clear me.”
“It doesn’t happen because you order it.”
“Then tell me what happens.”
Elaine nodded toward the chair.
“Sit down.”
Vincent remained standing.
Teresa said, “Vincent.”
He sat.
Elaine continued.
“We check criminal history, household composition, immediate safety concerns, sleeping arrangements, firearms, substance issues, recent domestic calls, and whether there are adults in the home who have not been screened.”
“My house is safer than most government buildings.”
“That sentence is not helpful.”
Teresa covered her mouth with the coffee cup.
Vincent looked at her.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
Elaine went on.
“Do you have firearms in the residence?”
Vincent paused.
“Yes.”
“How many?”
He looked at Marco.
Marco looked at the floor.
Teresa whispered, “I cannot believe this is my night.”
Elaine waited.
“Seven,” Vincent said.
Marco cleared his throat.
Vincent turned.
“Nine,” Marco corrected.
Teresa closed her eyes.
Vincent stared at him.
“Why nine?”
“The two in the downstairs safe.”
“I thought those were moved.”
“They weren’t.”
Elaine typed.
“Are all firearms secured?”
“Yes,” Marco said.
Elaine looked at Vincent.
“Yes.”
“Anyone else live there?”
“Staff.”
“Overnight?”
“Some.”
“Names?”
Marco provided them.
Elaine kept typing.
“Any children regularly present?”
“No.”
“Pool?”
“Closed for winter.”
“Dogs?”
“One.”
Lily’s eyes opened.
“Dog?”
Vincent looked down.
“Yes.”
“What dog?”
“Bruno.”
“Big?”
“Very.”
“Bites?”
“No.”
Marco looked away.
Vincent caught it.
“What?”
“Bruno bit the gardener.”
“He grabbed Bruno’s tail.”
Elaine stopped typing.
“When?”
“Three years ago.”
“Medical treatment?”
“Four stitches.”
Vincent looked offended by the entire line of inquiry.
“Bruno was provoked.”
Teresa muttered, “Put the dog on the witness list.”
Lily giggled.
It was the first full laugh anyone had heard from her.
Everyone stopped.
Lily seemed surprised by the sound herself.
Then she covered her mouth.
Vincent looked at her.
May you like
“What?”
“Grandpa mad.”
