Chương 11
"Hello?"
"Is this Claire Bennett?"
"Yes."
"My name is Dana Ruiz."
The woman identified herself as an after-hours child protective services investigator.
Claire sat on the edge of Mara's couch.
Dana's voice was brisk but not unfriendly.
She confirmed the clinic report and asked where Liam was.
"With me."
"At your residence?"
"My sister's."
Claire gave the address.
"Is Jeffrey Bennett there?"
"No."
"Does he know where you are?"
"I don't think so."
"Do you have concerns he may come there?"
Claire looked toward the kitchen.
Mara was pretending to steal one of Liam's sandwich squares.
He slapped her hand away and smiled.
"I don't know."
Dana paused.
"That's different from no."
Claire rubbed her forehead.
"Then yes."
"Has he threatened you?"
"Not today."
"Previously?"
Claire hesitated.
"Not physically."
Dana did not fill the silence.
Claire continued.
"He gets controlling when he thinks he's losing something."
"What does controlling mean?"
"Calls."
Claire looked at the dark television screen.
"Messages."
"Showing up?"
"Once after the separation."
"What happened?"
"He stood outside my apartment for forty minutes because I wouldn't answer."
"Police involved?"
"No."
"Any protective order?"
"No."
Dana typed.
Claire could hear the keys.
"I need to speak with you in person tonight."
Claire's back stiffened.
"Here?"
"Yes, if that's where Liam will remain."
Claire looked at the clock.
"Okay."
"I may need to visually check on him, but I won't conduct a detailed forensic interview tonight."
"Thank you."
Dana paused.
"Has Mr. Bennett contacted you since the clinic visit?"
"Several texts."
"Keep them."
"I have."
"Don't delete anything."
"I won't."
"And don't coach Liam about what to say."
"I won't."
Claire looked at her hands.
"What if he starts talking on his own?"
"Listen."
Dana's voice softened slightly.
"Don't interrogate."
Claire closed her eyes.
"Okay."
The call ended.
Claire stayed on the couch.
The house was quiet except for Mara and Liam arguing about whether ketchup belonged on grilled cheese.
Apparently Liam believed it did.
Mara considered this an attack on civilization.
Claire listened for a moment.
Then her phone buzzed again.
Jeffrey.
She opened the message.
My mother is unstable.
She is trying to punish me because I told her she can't stay here anymore.
A second message arrived.
Cynthia is willing to tell the truth about what happened.
Claire almost laughed.
Of course Cynthia was.
Then a photograph appeared.
It showed the utility room.
Bright overhead light.
Washer.
Dryer.
Shelves.
A basket of folded towels.
No chair.
No darkness.
No obvious danger.
Jeffrey added:
This is the room you are calling a prison.
Claire stared at the picture.
The room looked harmless.
That was the point.
She zoomed in.
The door opened inward.
The inside knob was visible.
Nothing appeared broken.
No lock.
The floor was clean.
Too clean.
She remembered Liam's filthy knees.
She remembered the blackened soles of his feet.
Then she noticed something near the bottom of the frame.
A rectangular patch of floor was a slightly different color.
As if something had recently been moved.
Claire took a screenshot.
Her phone rang again.
Marilyn.
Claire answered this time.
"Did you find Dino?"
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"I washed him."
"Thank you."
Marilyn breathed in.
"Claire, Jeffrey knows I called you."
Claire stood.
"How?"
"He checked the phone records."
"Already?"
"He pays for my plan."
Claire felt a chill move through her.
"What happened?"
"He told me to leave."
"You mean the house?"
"Yes."
"Are you safe?"
Marilyn gave a small, strange laugh.
"I am seventy-one years old, and apparently I have no idea how to answer that question."
Claire looked toward the kitchen.
"Where are you?"
"In my car."
"Where?"
"A grocery store parking lot."
Claire rubbed her temple.
"Do you have somewhere to go?"
"My friend Nancy."
"Then go there."
A pause.
"Claire."
"What?"
"He cleaned the room."
Claire went still.
"When?"
"After you left."
"How do you know?"
"I watched him."
Her voice shook.
"He swept it."
Claire sat down again.
"He swept what?"
"Dirt."
Claire closed her eyes.
"From Liam?"
"I think so."
"What else?"
"He took the chair to the garage."
Claire's grip tightened on the phone.
"Which chair?"
"The one from the hallway."
"Did you see where he put it?"
"Yes."
"Do not go back."
"I wasn't going to."
Claire heard traffic passing on Marilyn's end.
Then Marilyn whispered, "Cynthia told him to delete the video."
Claire's heart kicked.
"What video?"
Silence.
"Marilyn."
"There is a camera in the kitchen."
Claire stood so fast the couch cushion shifted beneath her.
"What camera?"
"A little security camera."
"Facing where?"
"The hallway."
Claire's mouth went dry.
"Does it show the utility-room door?"
"I think so."
"Does Jeffrey control it?"
"Yes."
Claire pressed her hand against her forehead.
"Is it cloud storage?"
"I don't know what that means."
"Never mind."
She paced once across the living room.
"Did you hear them say they deleted it?"
"Cynthia told him to."
"Did he?"
"I don't know."
Claire looked toward the window.
Outside, Mara's neighbor was walking a golden retriever past the house.
Everything looked offensively ordinary again.
"Marilyn, don't call Jeffrey."
"I won't."
"Don't warn him about anything else."
"I won't."
"And if anyone official contacts you, tell them about the camera."
Claire ended the call.
Mara appeared in the doorway.
"What camera?"
Claire looked at her.
"You heard?"
"You pace loudly."
Claire told her.
Mara's face sharpened.
"So there might be footage."
"Or there might have been."
"Can we get it?"
Claire shook her head.
"We can't."
"Police can."
"Maybe."
Mara crossed her arms.
Claire looked at the screen again.
Jeffrey's spotless utility-room photograph remained open.
For the first time since leaving his house, Claire felt something colder than anger.
He was not simply defending himself.
He was changing the scene.
Claire turned the phone facedown on Mara's coffee table.
"Don't touch anything he sends me."
Mara blinked.
"I wasn't planning to."
"I know."
Claire rubbed both hands over her face.
May you like
"I just need to say things out loud now."
"Then keep saying them."
