Chương 6
My skin prickled.
“Our house?”
“I don’t know.”
“He said my address?”
“No.”
She hesitated.
“He said they knew where he lived.”
Daniel’s head snapped toward her.
“I said I was worried they might.”
Ruiz glanced over.
Daniel pointed at him.
“I’m not answering questions.”
Ruiz said nothing.
I stared at Daniel.
“Were the calls real?”
He looked at the table.
“Daniel.”
He pressed his lips together.
For once, silence was not going to save him.
Hale came back through the front door carrying a small paper evidence bag and speaking quietly with another officer I had not seen arrive.
The officer remained outside.
Hale walked into the kitchen.
“I’ve spoken with a supervisor at First County.”
Daniel’s posture changed despite his declaration that he was done talking.
“They’re preserving the transaction records and surveillance.”
Hale looked at Patricia.
“They also confirmed that yesterday’s withdrawal was processed using your identification and a power-of-attorney document.”
Patricia’s face went pale.
“I never gave him power over that account.”
“That’s one of the things they’re reviewing.”
Daniel shifted in his chair.
I looked at him.
He would not meet my eyes.
Hale continued.
“The bank representative could not discuss details beyond preservation without the appropriate process.”
His tone remained measured.
“But there is enough here that I need to advise all of you not to move, destroy, transfer, or alter anything related to these financial accounts or yesterday’s transaction.”
Daniel said nothing.
Hale looked directly at him.
“That includes cash.”
Still nothing.
“And phones, computers, paperwork, messages, betting accounts, and financial records.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Patricia set down her water.
“What happens now?”
“There will be follow-up.”
Hale glanced at Daniel.
“Mr. Carter has asked for counsel, so I’m not going to question him further.”
“Are you arresting him?”
“Not right this second.”
Patricia seemed relieved and ashamed of her relief.
Daniel noticed.
So did I.
Hale went on.
“But that doesn’t mean this is over.”
A strange calm settled over Daniel.
It was the calm he used to wear after arguments when he believed time would make me tired enough to surrender.
He leaned back.
“So I can leave?”
Hale considered him.
“You’re not detained at the moment.”
Daniel stood.
I felt my body react before my thoughts did.
“No.”
Every face turned toward me.
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“You’re not staying here.”
His expression sharpened.
“It’s my house.”
“It’s our house.”
“Exactly.”
I opened my hand and placed the wedding ring on the table.
It made a small metallic click.
“Then take a bag.”
Daniel stared at the ring.
“You can’t throw me out.”
“I’m not physically throwing you anywhere.”
“You think because cops are standing here, you suddenly own the place?”
“No.”
My voice shook now, but I kept going.
“I think because you tried to use me as cover for fraud, I don’t want to sleep beside you tonight.”
Patricia lowered her eyes.
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“This is exactly what you’ve wanted.”
I almost asked what he meant.
Then I understood.
He needed me to have wanted this.
If I had secretly wanted the marriage to end, then perhaps he had not destroyed it.
He had only revealed me.
“You can tell yourself that if it helps.”
“See?”
He pointed toward Hale.
“She’s already decided I’m guilty.”
Hale said, “This isn’t a marital counseling session, sir.”
Daniel ignored him.
“You moved your money without telling me.”
“Yes.”
“You changed passwords.”
“Yes.”
“You were planning something.”
“I was protecting myself.”
“From your husband.”
“From missing money.”
That stopped him.
I reached into the junk drawer beside the refrigerator.
The drawer jammed halfway because a roll of tape had gotten stuck behind the organizer.
For several ridiculous seconds I fought with it while everyone watched.
Then the tape popped loose.
I pulled out the spare key to Patricia’s house.
Daniel had kept it there for years.
I set it beside the ring.
“Stay with your mother.”
Patricia looked up immediately.
“No.”
Daniel turned.
“Mom.”
“No.”
The word was quiet.
He stared at her.
Patricia placed both hands around her glass.
“I love you.”
Daniel’s face softened for an instant.
Then she continued.
“But you are not staying with me.”
He looked wounded.
Actually wounded.
“You think I’d steal from you again?”
Patricia flinched.
Again.
The word belonged to him.
Nobody had forced it into his mouth.
Daniel realized what he had said.
His eyes closed.
Hale did not move.
Ruiz did not move.
Even I stayed silent.
Daniel opened his eyes.
“I meant borrow.”
Patricia pushed her chair back.
“No.”
She looked older than she had an hour earlier, but her voice had changed.
It had lost the apologetic softness.
“You do not get to rename it now.”
Daniel stared at her.
His nostrils flared.
“Fine.”
He walked toward the hallway.
Ruiz stepped in front of him.
“Where are you going?”
“To pack a bag.”
Hale said, “You can retrieve personal clothing with an officer present, but stay out of the office.”
Daniel laughed without humor.
“Of course.”
Ruiz followed him toward the bedroom.
I remained in the kitchen with Patricia and Hale.
After they disappeared, Patricia pressed the heel of her hand against her forehead.
“I kept thinking if I helped him one more time, he would stop.”
I looked at the hallway.
“So did I.”
She turned toward me.
For the first time that morning, neither of us looked away.
Patricia’s mouth trembled, but she did not cry again.
Hale looked between us and seemed to decide that whatever needed saying could wait until he had finished being a police officer.
“I’m going to give both of you information for the report,” he said.
“If either of you receives messages, calls, payment demands, or anything else connected to Mr. Carter’s debts, don’t delete it.”
Patricia nodded.
I asked, “What if someone comes here?”
Hale’s expression sharpened.
“Call 911.”
May you like
Daniel had insisted the callers were vague, but vague did not mean harmless.
The thought of strangers knowing our address rearranged the fear inside me into something practical.
