Chapter 6 - DANIEL CAME LOOKING FOR HER
Daniel found us Thursday evening.
Not at Caroline’s condo.
At my house.
I had gone back alone to collect medication and clothes.
His SUV was waiting in my driveway when I arrived.
Daniel stood beside the porch.
No Patricia.
No smugness.
Just agitation.
“Where is Emily?”
“Safe.”
“She’s my wife.”
“Yes.”
“Tell me where she is.”
“No.”
His jaw tightened.
Then he noticed my phone in my hand.
“You’re recording me again?”
“Yes.”
“You’re making this worse.”
“For whom?”
He stepped closer but stopped several feet away.
“You don’t understand our marriage.”
“Maybe not.”
“You saw one argument.”
“I saw my daughter terrified to be left alone with you.”
His face changed.
Only for a second.
Then the calm returned.
“Patricia makes Emily anxious.”
I almost admired the speed.
He was already building a version where his mother caused the problem.
“You were holding her.”
“I was trying to calm her down.”
“You told her to stop crying and bring you food.”
Daniel looked away.
Then he tried another approach.
“Rebecca, there are financial matters Emily doesn’t understand. She needs to come home tonight.”
“Why tonight?”
Silence.
“Why not Saturday?”
His eyes returned to mine.
“Because certain things need to be handled.”
“Friday things?”
That landed.
Daniel’s face went pale.
I watched him realize exactly how much his mother had said.
“What did Patricia tell you?”
“Enough.”
“She doesn’t understand the details.”
“Do you?”
His voice dropped.
“You’re playing with something much bigger than you realize.”
For years that sentence might have frightened me.
Instead, I smiled.
“Good thing I finally asked someone who does.”
Daniel stopped breathing for half a second.
Then he asked, “Who?”
I opened my front door.
May you like
“Goodnight, Daniel.”
For once, he was the person left outside.
