Chương 3
Then a second sound: rain against glass.
Not yacht glass.
A house.
The fire had happened at Briar House, the Bennett family's coastal estate outside Newport, Rhode Island. An old stone property that had belonged to Daniel's grandfather and been rebuilt so many times that the interior was mostly modern architecture wearing antique walls.
Claire had been in the west study.
Why?
She saw the silver handle.
Her own hand.
A folder on the desk.
Red lettering.
Then smoke.
Her eyes opened.
Maya was watching her.
“Something?”
“I remember rain.”
“It was raining that night.”
“I know.”
“Anything else?”
Claire glanced at her bandaged wrist, then at the IV taped to the other.
“A folder.”
“What kind?”
“I don't know.”
“Don't force it.”
“I hate when you say that.”
“I know.”
“You say it like memory is a cat under a couch.”
Maya's mouth moved slightly.
“Some cats come out faster when you stop reaching.”
“That's terrible medical advice.”
“It wasn't medical advice.”
Claire leaned back.
The mattress shifted beneath her injured shoulder and she inhaled sharply.
Maya rose immediately.
“No. Stay.”
“You're in pain.”
“I am always in pain.”
“That doesn't make this pain irrelevant.”
Claire looked at her.
Maya's face softened, but not much. She was too tired for softness.
“Why are we on the yacht?” Claire asked.
Maya frowned. “You've asked that.”
“I want the real answer.”
“The hospital discharged you to private medical care because your wounds were stable, your respiratory injury was improving, and Daniel argued that media attention around your home made recovery difficult.”
“That part I know.”
“And his family offered the yacht because it has a medical suite.”
“That's the explanation.”
“Yes.”
“What's the reason?”
Maya was silent.
Claire continued.
“Daniel could have rented a private residence. He could have moved me to a secure hotel floor. Margaret owns three houses within two hours of Providence.”
“Yes.”
“But he put me on a boat.”
Maya looked toward the window.
Claire followed her gaze.
There was no road outside.
No sidewalk.
No neighbor.
No front desk.
Only water.
Something inside her stomach tightened.
“Can I leave?”
“Yes.”
“Tonight?”
Maya hesitated.
“That storm makes transfer unsafe.”
“Tomorrow?”
“If the weather clears.”
“Without Daniel's permission?”
Maya's expression changed.
Claire had her answer.
“Oh, God.”
“Claire.”
“Why did I ask that?”
“Because you're frightened.”
“No. Why did I think I needed his permission?”
Maya came closer.
“Trauma changes the size of ordinary decisions. That's all.”
“Is it?”
“I don't know.”
That answer helped more than reassurance would have.
Claire stared at the door.
“Lock it.”
Maya did.
By morning, the storm had moved east, leaving the sea swollen but blue-gray beneath a pale sky.
Claire woke at six seventeen because the yacht changed pitch as the engines started.
She lay still for several seconds.
Then she pressed the call button.
A nurse named Elise came in almost immediately.
“Why are we moving?”
Elise looked toward the window.
“I think we're heading into Newport.”
“You think?”
“The captain changed the schedule.”
“Who asked him?”
“I don't know.”
Claire pushed herself upright.
Pain opened across her shoulder like a heated zipper.
Elise moved quickly. “Please don't—”
“Where's Dr. Reed?”
“I'll get her.”
“Now.”
Elise left.
Claire swung her feet over the edge of the bed.
She had not walked farther than the bathroom without assistance since the fire.
Her legs shook.
She hated them for it.
She pulled the IV pole closer and stood.
The floor seemed to tilt beneath her.
For one humiliating second she thought she might faint.
Then she steadied.
The door opened and Daniel came in.
He had changed clothes.
Navy trousers, white shirt, no jacket, no tie. His sleeves were rolled to the forearms. Claire had always liked him that way. Less finished.
Now she noticed the watch.
He had been wearing the same watch the night of the fire.
She knew because she remembered seeing its blue face in the west study.
The memory arrived so sharply that her knees weakened.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Claire.”
She raised one hand.
“Don't touch me.”
He stopped.
Her pulse thudded against the healing skin along her shoulder.
“Why are we moving?”
“To Newport.”
“I know where. Why?”
“The storm cleared.”
“That isn't an answer.”
He looked tired. There was gray beneath his eyes.
“Cole took the evidence ashore before dawn. Our attorneys are meeting him. I thought it would be better if we were closer.”
“Our attorneys?”
“The family's.”
“I don't have an attorney.”
“You do.”
“I don't.”
“Claire—”
“Who is my lawyer?”
His silence lasted a fraction too long.
She laughed softly.
“You hired one.”
“I made sure someone was available.”
“For me?”
“Yes.”
“Or for the version of me you need?”
His face tightened.
“That isn't fair.”
“Neither was the door.”
He looked toward the floor.
There.
Not denial.
Again.
Claire wrapped her hand around the IV pole.
“Tell me why you locked it.”
“I didn't.”
She waited.
He raised his eyes.
“I didn't lock you in that room.”
“Your keycard was inside.”
“My keycard could have been there for a dozen reasons.”
“Give me one.”
He rubbed his wedding ring.
Claire watched.
Daniel noticed her watching and dropped his hand.
“I used that study constantly.”
“The card system records entries.”
“Not always correctly.”
“Convenient.”
“You want me to defend myself against things you don't remember.”
“No. I want you to help me remember.”
He stepped closer.
She did not move back.
That mattered to her.
“Okay,” he said.
His voice was softer now.
“The night of the fire, we had dinner with my mother, Graham, and the Ellisons. You were upset before dinner.”
“Why?”
“You had gotten an email.”
“From who?”
“I don't know.”
“You read it?”
“No.”
“Then how did you know?”
“You told me.”
“What did I tell you?”
Daniel looked toward the window.
Claire felt anger rise, then flatten into something colder.
“You're editing.”
May you like
“I am trying not to tell you what to remember.”
“Maya already used that excuse.”
