Chapter 2 - The Blood in My Trunk

Detective Marcus Reed pulled the curtain around my bed while Officer Hale stayed near the door.

Brooke immediately protested. “She just woke up. She needs rest.”

“She also needs privacy,” Nurse Carter said.

Brooke stared at her. “I’m her sister.”

“And right now, you’re not the patient.”

That shut her up.

Mom sank back into the chair, gripping the edge of her cardigan with both hands.

Detective Reed waited until Brooke was several feet away.

“Claire, I’m going to ask you simple questions. Blink once for yes, twice for no. Can you do that?”

I blinked once.

“Do you remember getting hurt?”

One blink.

Brooke moved.

The detective raised a hand without looking at her. “Stay where you are.”

My heart hammered.

I remembered rain against the windshield. I remembered Brooke in my kitchen. I remembered her shouting about Dad’s will.

Then I remembered a hand around my throat.

“Was anyone else with you?” Reed asked.

One blink.

Brooke whispered, “Claire, you were alone.”

Nurse Carter snapped, “Stop answering for her.”

Reed’s gaze sharpened. “Was your sister with you?”

I looked at Brooke.

Her face was completely still.

One blink.

Mom let out a broken sob.

Brooke turned on her. “Mom.”

That one word sounded like a warning.

Reed noticed.

“So you were together,” he said. “That matters, because your vehicle was found abandoned behind the old Riverside storage complex. Driver’s door open. Front seat clean. Trunk interior covered in blood.”

My stomach turned.

I had not been in the trunk.

I knew that much.

I tried to speak. Pain tore through my jaw.

“Don’t,” Nurse Carter said gently. “Save your strength.”

I lifted one shaking finger and pointed toward Mom.

She stared at me.

Then she shook her head quickly, tears spilling over.

Brooke noticed that too.

“What is she trying to say?” Reed asked.

I pointed again.

Mom stood.

“No,” she whispered. “Claire, please.”

Brooke took one step toward her.

“Mom, sit down.”

Mom did not.

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Instead she looked at the detective and said the sentence that changed everything.

“The blood in the trunk isn’t Claire’s.”