Chapter 2
Daniel moved before he thought.
He caught Vanessa's wrist with one hand and took the recorder from Lily with the other.
"Back up."
"Daniel, that thing is a toy."
"Back up."
Something in his voice made even the security officers move closer.
Grace crawled to Lily and wrapped both arms around her.
Vanessa's eyes stayed on the recorder.
Daniel pressed PLAY.
At first there was only static.
Then Lily's small voice.
"I don't want to go near the pool."
Vanessa answered from somewhere close.
"Stop being dramatic."
A splash sounded.
Lily screamed.
Daniel's fingers tightened around the device.
The recording continued.
"You pushed me!"
"Lower your voice."
"I want Mommy."
"Your mother isn't coming."
Then Vanessa said something so quietly Daniel almost missed it.
"The last accident worked. One more and nobody will question anything."
The hallway seemed to lose all its air.
Daniel pressed STOP.
Vanessa laughed once, but there was no humor in it.
"You have no idea when that was recorded. She repeats things she hears on television."
Grace looked at Daniel.
"That is what I have been trying to tell you for months."
He stared at her.
"You haven't been allowed near Lily."
"Because Vanessa made sure of it."
One of the guards, Mason, stepped forward.
"Sir, we need to secure the house and call police."
Vanessa spun on him.
"You work for my husband."
"I work for the household."
Daniel looked at Lily.
"Sweetheart, what did she mean by 'the last accident'?"
Lily buried her face in Grace's shoulder.
Vanessa spoke quickly.
"Do not interrogate a traumatized child."
Daniel's head snapped toward her.
"Funny. You didn't care about trauma when you were chasing her with a bat."
The doorbell rang downstairs.
Mason checked the security tablet.
His expression changed.
"Police are here."
Vanessa exhaled, almost relieved.
Then Mason frowned.
"Sir, they say they were called ten minutes ago."
Daniel looked at him.
"By who?"
Mason turned the screen around.
May you like
The emergency call had come from inside the house.
From Vanessa's phone.
