Chapter 7 - Rose
They returned to Lily's room and locked the door.
Rose would not come fully inside. She stayed near the closet opening, ready to disappear.
Daniel sat on the floor to make himself less threatening.
"How old are you?"
"Nine."
"Where is your mother?"
Rose looked at Claire.
"You know."
Claire shook her head. "I don't. I swear."
Rose's eyes hardened in a way no nine-year-old's should.
"She said you would say that."
Lily slid off Daniel's lap and held out her stuffed rabbit.
"You can hold him."
Rose's expression broke for half a second.
She took the rabbit.
Daniel waited.
"How long have you been in this house?"
"Six days."
"Where do you sleep?"
"In the old room downstairs."
Claire whispered, "What old room?"
Rose ignored her.
"How did you get inside?" Daniel asked.
"The tunnels."
"Who showed you?"
"Mom."
Claire grabbed the edge of the dresser. "Rebecca is alive?"
Rose stared at her.
"She was."
The room went still.
Daniel's voice softened. "When did you last see her?"
"Three days ago."
"Where?"
"Under the house."
Claire's knees nearly buckled.
Rose returned the rabbit to Lily and reached into the pocket of her yellow sweater.
She took out a silver key.
"Mom told me if she didn't come back, I had to give this to Daniel Carter."
Daniel frowned. "She knew my name?"
"She knew everything about you."
Rose placed the key in his hand.
Her fingers trembled even after she let go. Daniel noticed dirt beneath her nails and a fading scrape on one wrist. She had been moving through walls, hiding from adults, and somehow still found enough courage to protect Lily. He wanted to ask a hundred questions. Instead, he gave her the one thing nobody in this family seemed to give children.
"You decide what you tell me next," he said. "But I won't hand you over to anyone tonight."
Rose studied his face, searching for a trick. Then she nodded once.
A tiny tag was attached.
BANK 417.
Daniel stared at it.
"Safe-deposit box?"
Rose nodded.
"Mom said it proves what your wife did."
Claire went white.
Daniel looked up slowly.
"What did Claire do?"
Rose's answer came without hesitation.
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"She told them where Emma was hiding."
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