Chapter 2 - WHAT SOPHIE WAS AFRAID TO SAY
Claire did not scream when the handcuffs closed around her wrists.
That frightened Daniel more than screaming would have.
She simply stared at Sophie.
Not Daniel.
Not Sarah.
Sophie.
"Tell them you're confused."
Sophie tightened her arms around Sarah.
The officer guided Claire toward the door.
Claire resisted just enough to turn her head.
"Daniel, when you find out what Sarah really did, don't say I didn't warn you."
Sarah went rigid.
Daniel noticed.
Claire noticed him noticing.
And she smiled.
The front door closed behind the officers.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Sophie whispered something against Sarah's shoulder.
"Can I eat now?"
The question destroyed Daniel.
He walked into the kitchen and cut his daughter the largest slice of birthday cake he could manage.
Sophie ate too fast.
Sarah gently slowed her.
"You don't have to hurry."
Sophie looked toward the hallway.
"She doesn't like when I take too long."
Daniel stopped cutting the cake.
"How long has Claire been doing this?"
Sophie stared at her plate.
Sarah reached across the table.
"You can tell us."
Sophie whispered.
"Since Daddy started sleeping at the hospital."
Daniel closed his eyes.
His mother had undergone heart surgery six months earlier.
He had spent many nights caring for her.
Claire had encouraged him to stay away as long as necessary.
Daniel suddenly understood why.
"What else happened?"
Sophie looked frightened.
"She said if I told you, she'd make Mommy disappear again."
Sarah's face lost all color.
Daniel leaned forward.
"What do you mean again?"
Sophie looked at Sarah.
"Claire said Mommy left because she didn't love me."
Sarah covered her mouth.
Daniel had heard that explanation too.
Three years earlier, Sarah had suddenly vanished after a bitter custody dispute.
Claire had produced messages showing Sarah wanted nothing to do with Sophie.
Daniel had believed them.
He hated himself for that now.
Sarah took a slow breath.
"I never abandoned her."
Daniel looked at her.
"Then where were you?"
Sarah reached into her coat.
She placed a worn brown envelope on the table.
"Trying to survive what Claire did to me."
Daniel opened it.
Inside were hospital records.
Police reports.
Photographs of a damaged car.
And a document showing Sarah had filed three emergency petitions to contact Sophie.
Daniel's chest tightened.
"I never saw any of these."
"I know."
"Why?"
"Because every letter I sent came back."
Sarah looked toward the front window.
"Someone had changed your mailing address in the court system."
Daniel's blood went cold.
"Claire."
Sarah nodded.
Sophie stopped eating.
"Daddy?"
Daniel immediately forced himself to soften.
"You're safe."
Sophie swallowed.
"There is another camera."
Daniel frowned.
"What?"
"Claire has another camera."
"Where?"
Sophie pointed toward the upstairs hallway.
"In your bedroom."
Daniel and Sarah looked at each other.
May you like
Sophie whispered the rest.
"She watches it when you're not home."
