Chapter 6 - 3:15 P.M.

I showed the text to Dana and Officer Keller immediately.

They told me not to reply.

I wanted to reply with every angry word I knew.

Instead, I sat beside Lily on my couch while she colored a picture of a dog wearing sunglasses.

"Lil?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you remember what happened at three fifteen yesterday?"

The crayon stopped moving.

She didn't look at me.

"Who told you that?"

I kept my voice gentle.

"Someone sent me a message."

Her face changed.

"Was it Grandma?"

"I don't know."

Lily set the crayon down.

"Three fifteen is when she makes me stand in the garage."

I forced myself not to react.

"Why?"

"Because Mom has a meeting at three."

"Every day?"

"On Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"What do you do in the garage?"

"Nothing."

"For how long?"

She shrugged.

"Until Grandma says I can come in."

I looked at the clock.

"Yesterday, when did she let you back in?"

"She didn't."

My throat tightened.

"Tell me what happened from the beginning."

Lily picked at the edge of her sleeve.

"Grandma was mad because I asked if I could call you. She said I always ruin Mom's day by talking about you. Then she took my tablet."

"Okay."

"I went to find Mom's old phone because I knew it could record things."

"How did you know?"

"Mom showed me once. She said if Grandma ever scared me, I could tell her."

I closed my eyes for one second.

Taylor had known enough to give our daughter a safety plan.

And still kept Evelyn in the house.

"Then what?"

"Grandma caught me at the desk."

"Did she hurt you?"

Lily hesitated.

"She grabbed my arm."

"Then?"

"She took the phone. I took the key."

"Why?"

"Because I thought if she couldn't open the desk again, she couldn't delete the other videos."

"Other videos?"

Lily nodded.

"There were lots."

I leaned forward.

"What happened after you took the key?"

Her eyes filled with tears.

"She said I was a liar just like you."

I didn't breathe.

"Then she made me get in the freezer."

"Made you how?"

"She said she would call Mom and tell her I broke the phone unless I did what she said."

Lily wiped her cheek.

"Daddy?"

"Yeah?"

"I heard Mom come home before you did."

I stared at her.

"What?"

"I heard her voice."

"Are you sure?"

Lily nodded.

"She said, 'Mom, what did you do?'"

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My blood went cold.

Taylor had told police she arrived after me.