Chương 11
Sarah’s expression softened.
“I’ll stay.”
Ethan said, “I’ll get it.”
Sarah handed him her keys and pointed toward the street.
“Silver Honda.”
Ethan jogged around the side of the house.
Daniel remained focused on Melina.
“Who was here this morning?”
Melina rubbed her arms.
“No one.”
“You just said someone was using the bathroom.”
“I misspoke.”
“You don’t misspeak.”
“That is a ridiculous thing to say.”
“You rehearse conversations before making dinner reservations.”
Melina glared at him.
Claire almost looked away.
There was something intimate and ugly about seeing Daniel turn his knowledge of his mother against her.
He knew exactly where the weak points were.
So did she.
Families collected those maps without meaning to.
Sarah said, “The woman in the picture left at seven twelve.”
Melina looked at her.
“You were spying on us.”
“Yes.”
The answer came so plainly that Melina seemed unprepared for it.
Sarah continued.
“I was.”
Claire looked at her sister.
“Why?”
Sarah folded her arms.
“Because I thought Daniel was lying.”
Daniel laughed.
“You keep saying that like it excuses everything.”
“No.”
Sarah looked tired.
“It explains it.”
Claire watched the two of them.
Neither seemed surprised by the other’s hostility anymore.
That meant their conflict had lasted longer than either had admitted.
“How many times did you meet?”
Sarah glanced at Daniel.
“Three.”
Claire looked at him.
“You said one coffee shop meeting.”
Daniel exhaled hard.
“I said I met her somewhere else.”
“Once.”
“I didn’t give you a number.”
“You let me assume one.”
Daniel looked away.
Claire nodded.
“That’s your favorite kind of honesty.”
His head snapped back.
“Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Turn this into our marriage.”
Claire stared at him.
“It already is.”
Lily tugged on her dress again.
Claire stopped.
The child’s face had gone pale.
“What is it?”
“My tummy hurts.”
Claire crouched.
“When did you eat?”
Lily shrugged.
“What did you have today?”
“Cereal.”
“This morning?”
Lily nodded.
“Anything after?”
Another shrug.
Melina said, “She refused lunch.”
Claire looked at her.
“What did you offer?”
“Soup.”
“She hates soup.”
“She needed something warm.”
“She hates soup.”
“She has eaten it before.”
“Because adults made her.”
Melina’s mouth tightened.
Claire felt suddenly exhausted by the pettiness of the exchange.
That was the strangest part.
A potentially dangerous stranger had entered her home.
Her daughter had been locked in a kennel.
Her husband had lied repeatedly.
And somehow they were arguing about soup.
Real life refused to organize itself around importance.
Ethan returned carrying a bottle of water and a packet of crackers.
He handed both to Claire.
She opened the water and gave it to Lily.
Lily drank too quickly.
“Slow.”
Claire touched the bottom of the bottle.
“Little sips.”
Lily obeyed.
Ethan looked toward the front of the house.
“Police are here.”
A moment later, two officers came through the side gate.
One was a broad-shouldered man in his forties.
The other was a younger woman with dark hair pulled into a low bun.
Their eyes went first to Lily.
Then the kennel.
Then the broken padlock and bolt cutters.
Claire watched their faces become professional.
Not shocked.
Not yet.
The younger officer introduced herself as Officer Morales.
She crouched several feet from Lily without approaching further.
“Hi, Lily.”
Lily hid behind Claire.
Morales did not push.
“That’s okay.”
The male officer, Becker, looked at Claire.
“You made the call?”
“Yes.”
Claire heard how thin her own voice sounded.
She pointed toward the kennel.
“My daughter was locked in there.”
Becker glanced at Melina.
“By who?”
Claire said, “Her grandmother.”
Melina immediately stepped forward.
“There is context.”
Becker raised one hand.
“We’ll get everyone’s account.”
Daniel said, “Officer, there may also be someone inside the house.”
Both officers turned toward him.
Becker’s posture changed.
“Someone you know?”
“We don’t know.”
Claire looked at Daniel.
“That’s not accurate.”
He frowned.
“We suspect a woman was given a key.”
Morales straightened.
“Is she believed to be inside now?”
Sarah said, “I saw someone leave this morning.”
Melina said, “She is gone.”
Everyone looked at her.
Becker asked, “You know who we’re talking about?”
Melina’s mouth tightened.
“I believe so.”
“What’s her name?”
“Rebecca.”
“Last name?”
“I don’t know.”
Becker looked at Daniel.
“You live here?”
“Yes.”
“Anyone else currently supposed to have access?”
“My wife.”
Daniel nodded toward Claire.
“My mother has a key.”
He looked at Melina.
“Apparently other people may too.”
Becker glanced toward the door.
“Any weapons in the house?”
Daniel hesitated.
Claire’s stomach dropped.
“There’s a gun.”
She looked at him.
“What?”
Daniel kept his eyes on Becker.
“Locked in the office.”
Claire stared at her husband.
“You have a gun in the house?”
“It’s in a safe.”
“You bought a gun?”
“Months ago.”
“You never told me.”
“This is not the time.”
Claire almost laughed.
Officer Morales looked between them but said nothing.
Becker’s voice became firmer.
“Where is the office?”
“First floor, front left.”
“Safe combination?”
“Fingerprint lock.”
“Whose fingerprints?”
“Mine.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
Melina looked away.
Becker noticed.
“So nobody goes inside.”
He radioed for another unit.
Claire felt Lily pressing closer.
The crackers remained unopened in her hand.
She tore the packet and gave one to Lily.
Lily took a bite.
Crumbs stuck to the corner of her mouth.
Claire wiped them away with her thumb.
That small act steadied her more than anything else had.
Morales said, “Claire, I need to ask about the bruises.”
Claire nodded.
Lily stiffened.
Morales noticed.
“We don’t have to do it here.”
Claire looked at the child.
“Can we sit somewhere?”
Morales gestured toward the patio table.
They moved slowly.
Lily sat on Claire’s lap.
Sarah remained near the hedge.
Daniel stood with Becker.
Melina stayed by the kennel, arms folded tightly.
Ethan stood between groups as if unsure where he belonged.
Morales asked Lily simple questions first.
Her age.
Her favorite color.
Whether she went to preschool.
Lily answered pink, then changed it to purple.
May you like
Claire nearly smiled.
Lily changed favorite colors constantly and treated each change like legislation.
