Chương 10
“How do you know which flight?”
“He gave us his itinerary when we spoke with him.”
“You spoke to him?”
“Again this morning.”
My stomach tightened.
“What did he say?”
“I can’t give you a full account of an ongoing interview.”
“Did he admit leaving Liam?”
“He maintains he believed someone would check on him.”
“Tyler already denied that.”
“I know.”
“Did you tell Brandon that?”
“I’m not discussing interview strategy.”
I closed my eyes.
The detective’s caution had become familiar enough to annoy me without surprising me.
“There will be officers near the house when he arrives,” Harris continued.
“Near or inside?”
“Nearby unless circumstances require otherwise.”
“So I’m supposed to stand there and wait for him?”
“No.”
His tone sharpened slightly.
“You are not supposed to create a confrontation.”
“I’m not trying to.”
“Good.”
“I just want him to see what he did.”
“That sentence sounds like confrontation.”
I looked across the hotel room.
Liam was lining up sugar packets by color.
“I need him to understand.”
Harris was quiet for a moment.
“Mrs. Mercer, people do not always understand on the schedule we need them to.”
I hated the sentence because it sounded true.
“Then what am I supposed to do?”
“Protect your child.”
“I am.”
“Preserve evidence.”
“I am.”
“Let the investigation move.”
“That feels like doing nothing.”
“It often does.”
After we hung up, Claire watched me from the second bed.
“You’re going anyway.”
“Yes.”
“Of course you are.”
“You don’t have to come.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
She picked up her shoes.
“I’m coming.”
At two, we drove Liam to the Patels.
He brought his stuffed shark and the Lego car he had decided not to leave at home after all.
Mrs. Patel had made lemonade.
Sanjay was in the backyard fixing a loose board on the fence.
Liam asked if he could help.
Sanjay handed him a screwdriver.
Before I left, Liam caught my sleeve.
“Is Brandon mad at me?”
“No.”
It came out too fast.
I corrected myself.
“I don’t know what Brandon feels.”
“Will he come here?”
“No.”
“How do you know?”
“Because I’m telling him not to.”
His eyes stayed on mine.
Adults had made too many declarations to him lately.
I could see him testing this one.
“And if he does?”
“Then you stay inside with Mr. and Mrs. Patel.”
He nodded.
I kissed his forehead.
“Call me for anything.”
“What counts as anything?”
For half a second, neither of us moved.
Then I knelt.
“Anything means anything.”
He accepted that.
At 3:26, Brandon’s plane landed.
At 3:39, I got a message.
On the ground.
At 3:52, another.
Getting bags.
At 4:06, he called.
I declined it.
At 4:12, a text appeared.
Are you at the house?
I did not answer.
Claire and I were already there.
Her car sat across the street because I did not want Brandon blocking it in.
My own car remained in the driveway.
Inside, I had placed the airline screenshot, Tyler’s text exchange, photographs of the refrigerator, and the police incident number on the dining-room table.
Marlene had told me not to perform for him.
I still put the papers there.
Maybe that was performance.
Maybe it was the only way I could imagine staying calm.
At 4:43, a rideshare stopped at the curb.
Lucas got out first.
He was taller than I remembered from two weeks earlier, though of course he was not.
He carried a white souvenir bag and wore a San Diego Padres cap.
Alyssa climbed out after him holding a stuffed seal.
Both of them looked tired and sunburned.
Then Brandon stepped onto the sidewalk.
He saw Claire’s car.
He saw mine.
He saw the police cruiser parked half a block away.
His entire body changed.
He handed the driver a suitcase too quickly and nearly dropped it.
Lucas noticed the cruiser.
“Dad?”
Brandon ignored him.
He dragged two suitcases up the walk.
Alyssa followed more slowly.
When I opened the door, Brandon did not say hello.
He looked past me toward the cruiser.
“Why are there police here?”
I stepped aside.
“Come in.”
His jaw tightened.
“Rachel.”
“Come inside.”
Lucas and Alyssa had stopped behind him.
I looked at them.
“Hi.”
Alyssa’s expression was uncertain.
“Hi.”
Lucas said nothing.
Brandon entered.
The kids followed.
Claire stood near the kitchen with her arms crossed.
Brandon saw her and exhaled through his nose.
“Of course.”
Claire smiled without warmth.
“Good trip?”
“Stay out of this.”
“Gladly.”
She walked toward the back door.
“I’ll be outside.”
I appreciated her leaving more than I would have appreciated any insult.
Brandon dropped the suitcase handle.
“Where’s Liam?”
“With the Patels.”
“Why?”
I stared at him.
He looked genuinely offended by the question he had just asked.
“Sit down.”
“I’m not sitting down in my own house like I’m being interviewed.”
“Then stand.”
Lucas shifted near the doorway.
“Can we go upstairs?”
Brandon turned immediately.
“Yes.”
“No,” I said.
Everyone looked at me.
My own voice startled me.
I had not planned to stop them.
Brandon’s eyes narrowed.
“They don’t need to hear this.”
“Maybe not.”
I looked at Lucas and Alyssa.
“But I need to ask them one question first.”
“No.”
Brandon moved between us.
“You are not interrogating my children.”
“I’m not interrogating anyone.”
“Then don’t ask.”
Lucas stared at his father.
“Ask what?”
Brandon snapped, “Go upstairs.”
Lucas flinched.
Alyssa looked at me.
“What happened?”
I glanced at Brandon.
He had gone pale beneath the sunburn across his cheeks.
“Liam was home alone while you were in California.”
Alyssa’s mouth opened.
Lucas frowned.
“What?”
Brandon stepped toward me.
“Enough.”
I did not move.
“For six days.”
“That’s not what happened.”
Lucas looked from him to me.
“Dad said Liam was with Aunt Claire.”
The room went silent.
Claire had just reached the back door.
She stopped with one hand on the knob.
“What?”
May you like
Lucas turned toward her.
“He said Liam stayed with you because Rachel needed help with Grandma’s house.”
