Chapter 15 - Claire at the Door
Claire stood beyond the temporary protective-order boundary at the end of the driveway.
Two officers moved toward her immediately.
"I just want to see my husband!" she shouted.
Daniel stayed on the porch.
"You need to leave."
"Daniel, please."
Her hair was pulled back. She wore jeans and a gray sweater instead of the polished dresses he was used to seeing. For one dangerous second, she looked like the woman he remembered from better years.
Then she said, "They are lying to you."
"Who?"
"Evan. The police. Everyone."
"The cameras too?"
Her face tightened.
"I made mistakes."
"You scared my children."
"Our children."
"Do not say that like it gives you ownership over them."
She flinched.
"I love them."
Daniel almost lost control then.
Instead, he spoke slowly.
"Love does not make a five-year-old stand in front of his sister because he thinks he has to protect her from you."
Claire began crying.
"Victor manipulated me."
Agent Kim stepped onto the porch behind Daniel.
Claire saw her and stopped.
"You should speak to your attorney," Kim said.
Claire looked at Daniel again.
"If you let them take me, you'll never know the whole truth."
"Then tell the truth."
"Not here."
The officers approached.
Claire raised both hands.
"Ask Rachel where she was on March fourteenth."
Daniel's head snapped toward the house.
Rachel stood behind the glass storm door, pale.
"What are you talking about?" Daniel demanded.
Claire smiled through tears.
"You think I'm the only person in this family who kept secrets?"
The officers escorted her to a car.
Daniel turned toward his sister.
Rachel did not move.
"Rachel?"
She opened the door.
"I can explain."
Daniel's stomach dropped.
"Explain what?"
May you like
Rachel looked at Agent Kim, then back at her brother.
"I met Claire that night."
