Chapter 10 - What Claire Took
Daniel waited until Detective Morris walked into the hallway.
Then he caught Claire by the elbow.
"Empty your pocket."
"What?"
"Now."
She hesitated.
That was enough.
Daniel reached in and pulled out the C-1 camera.
His stomach dropped.
"Why do you have this?"
Claire stared at the floor.
"I was afraid the police would connect it to my mother and send everything straight back to her lawyers."
"That makes no sense."
"You don't know how much influence she has."
"Then you tell the detective that. You don't steal evidence."
Detective Morris returned.
She saw the camera in Daniel's hand.
"Where did that come from?"
Daniel looked at Claire.
For one terrible second, he considered protecting her.
Then he remembered Lily saying, Don't let Mom touch it.
"Her pocket."
Claire closed her eyes.
Morris's expression hardened. "Mrs. Carter, I need you to come with me."
"Am I under arrest?"
"Not yet."
"Then I'm staying with my daughter."
Lily, sitting on Mr. Hanley's couch across the street, pressed closer to Rose.
Daniel noticed.
Morris noticed too.
"We can speak here," the detective said. "But you do not touch anything else."
Claire nodded.
Morris photographed the camera, bagged it, and asked Daniel for the bank key.
He had not mentioned it.
He glanced at Rose.
She was staring at Morris.
"Why do you know about the key?" Daniel asked.
Morris went still.
"What key?"
"You just asked for it."
Silence.
Then Rose stood abruptly.
"She's one of them."
Morris reached for her radio.
Daniel stepped between her and the girls.
"Don't."
The detective's voice changed. Lost its warmth.
"Mr. Carter, move aside."
From the street came the squeal of tires.
A black sedan stopped hard in front of the house.
The rear door opened.
Margaret Vale stepped out wearing a gray coat and a calm smile.
May you like
"There you are," she said to Rose.
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