Chapter 3 - HOW THEY GOT INTO MY HOUSE
The first question Officer Daniels asked me was simple.
“Did you give your mother permission to enter your residence today?”
“No.”
Evelyn immediately interrupted.
“I have a key.”
Daniels looked at her.
“That wasn’t the question.”
Mom’s mouth tightened.
The key was old.
Years earlier, after Lily was born, I gave my parents an emergency copy. My father died three years later, and I forgot Mom still had it.
Apparently she had not.
“What time did you come here?” I asked.
Melissa answered.
“Around six.”
It was 7:18.
I looked at Lily.
She was still wrapped around me.
“Why?”
Mom stepped forward.
“We were concerned.”
“About what?”
“You didn’t answer your phone.”
I pulled it from my pocket.
Two missed calls.
Both within eleven minutes.
“I was driving.”
“You’re always unavailable when it matters.”
Daniels looked between us.
“Mrs. Carter—”
“Ms. Carter,” I corrected.
He nodded.
“Ms. Carter, where was your daughter supposed to be this evening?”
“With my mother until six-thirty. Then I was picking her up.”
Daniels glanced at his partner.
That exchanged look told me everything.
Something was badly wrong with the story they had received.
“Was Lily ever supposed to be here alone?”
“No.”
“Did you ask your mother to bring her here?”
“No.”
Now Melissa looked nervous.
I turned toward her.
“You brought Lily into my house without asking?”
Mom stepped between us verbally.
“We brought her home.”
“Why?”
“So the police could see where she lives.”
Silence.
Even Melissa looked at Mom after that.
Officer Daniels closed his notebook.
“What exactly were you expecting us to see?”
Mom realized too late how the sentence sounded.
She crossed her arms.
“I’m not answering questions like I’m a criminal.”
“No one called you one,” Daniels said.
Then Lily whispered against my shoulder.
“Grandma said you went away.”
I felt my stomach drop.
I crouched again.
“Went where?”
“She said you didn’t want me tonight.”
Evelyn snapped, “Lily, that’s not what I said.”
My daughter flinched.
I stood immediately.
“Do not correct her.”
“Natalie.”
“Don’t.”
My voice was so quiet that Mom actually stopped.
Lily looked at me.
“She said the police were coming because you left me.”
That was when Officer Daniels asked his partner to step outside and contact dispatch.
May you like
My mother stopped looking annoyed.
She started looking worried.
