Chapter 3 - MY COUSIN HAD A KEYCarlos and I had been raised like brothers. When his father died, Mom fed him every Friday. When his truck broke down, I loaned him the money to repair it. Before I left for my second deployment, he promised to check on her.
Now he stood in my kitchen with a key I had never given him.
"Explain that sentence," I said.
His eyes narrowed. "I meant you should've called. Look at the mess."
Lorena hurried to his side. "Daniel attacked me. He broke the wall."
"I moved you away from Mom. The panel gave way."
Carlos inspected the broken drywall like he'd been hired to build a case. "You need to calm down. A soldier comes home upset, somebody gets hurt, that's how stories start."
"What stories? The truth?"
He leaned closer. "You know how the sheriff feels about domestic calls."
Then Lorena lifted her phone and showed him something. Carlos nodded almost imperceptibly.
Mom squeezed my hand. "Danny, the hospital. Please."
That settled it. I called 911 and asked for an ambulance and a deputy. I described the hot food, the confusion, and the medication bottle. I kept my voice steady because Mom was watching me. Carlos tried to take the phone. I turned away.
The dispatcher told me to stay put. Lorena began photographing the broken pantry and the red mark on her forearm where I'd grabbed her.
"Smile for your evidence," she said.
I didn't respond. I poured cool water onto a clean cloth and gently dabbed Mom's hair. She flinched when I lifted my hand near her face.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
"You have nothing to apologize for."
Carlos headed for the hallway. I followed his glance and saw a moving box labeled RUTH'S DOCUMENTS.
"Don't touch that," I warned.
"It's my aunt's stuff."
"Then she'll decide who touches it."
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The ambulance siren sounded outside. At the same instant, Carlos's phone lit up on the counter.
A message preview appeared: IF HE'S BACK, USE THE VIOLENCE REPORT. KEEP HIM AWAY FROM THE DEED.
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