Chapter 3 - WHY I DIDN’T CONFRONT EVELYN
Evelyn reached the pillar.
We were already gone.
At the last second, I pulled Chloe through the side entrance of a department store and moved behind a display wall.
We did not run.
Running gets attention.
Instead, we walked quickly through cosmetics, crossed into women’s clothing, and exited through another door into the parking garage.
Only when we reached my car did Chloe start crying.
“Is Grandma breaking into our house?”
“I don’t know.”
“But she gave him our key.”
“I know.”
“Should we call Dad?”
That question hurt.
Because despite everything between David and me, he was still her father.
And Chloe still believed Dad was the person adults called when something strange happened.
I started the car.
“Not yet.”
“Why?”
“Because I need to understand what we saw first.”
I hated making her part of my suspicion.
So I did something David and Evelyn rarely did.
I stopped giving her adult information.
“You noticed something important. You told me. That was exactly right. Now grown-ups handle the rest.”
“Are we going home?”
“No.”
Her eyes widened.
“Why?”
“Because I’d rather be careful and feel silly later than ignore something important.”
I called Natalie from the parking garage.
She listened to the entire story without interrupting.
Then asked, “Did you record it?”
“Yes.”
“Back it up.”
“I already did.”
“Good.”
“What do I do?”
“Do not confront Evelyn.”
That was exactly what I wanted to do.
“Why?”
“Because right now you know she gave someone a key, an envelope, and instructions involving tomorrow at seven-thirty. You don’t know the objective.”
“She said make sure no one sees you.”
“I agree it’s alarming.”
“Alarming?”
“Hannah, I’m trying to keep you from doing something that tells them you know.”
I went quiet.
Natalie continued.
“Where is David?”
“Dallas. Supposedly.”
“For the development conference?”
“Yes.”
“Can you verify that independently?”
My stomach tightened.
“No.”
“Don’t call him.”
I looked at Chloe.
She was staring through the windshield.
“What about the house?”
“Take Chloe somewhere else tonight.”
“My sister’s?”
“Good.”
“And tomorrow?”
“I’m going to speak with the investigator we retained for the financial disclosure. We’ll also document the key issue and make sure the house is protected.”
“Change the locks?”
“Eventually. Not yet.”
“Why not?”
“Because somebody just told you exactly when they plan to use that key.”
I understood.
May you like
For the first time since seeing Evelyn in the mall, fear made room for something else.
Opportunity.
