Chapter 16 - THE ACCIDENT THAT NEVER HAPPENED
Jason said Margaret wanted Daniel delayed Friday morning.
Nothing more.
At least that was what she told him.
She had asked him to damage one of Daniel’s tires the night before the custody hearing.
“A flat tire?” Detective Chen asked.
Jason nodded.
“She said she only needed two hours.”
Daniel stared at him.
“Did you do it?”
“No.”
Jason looked sick.
“I went to the garage with a knife.”
“But then I saw Lily’s booster seat.”
He started crying.
“I couldn’t.”
Police recovered messages confirming the request.
Margaret was arrested again before sunrise.
This time, bail was revoked.
The conspiracy charges expanded.
Claire remained in custody too.
Daniel expected relief.
Instead, he felt exhausted.
He had spent days finding villains.
Now he had to help his daughter live after them.
A trauma therapist named Dr. Patel began working with Lily.
Daniel learned not to ask what happened after every session.
He learned to let Lily choose whether her bedroom door stayed open.
He learned that she hated rice because Claire had used it during punishments.
He learned that the sound of a phone recording made her freeze.
One evening, Lily pushed her dinner away.
Daniel felt panic before he could stop it.
Then he remembered what Dr. Patel had said.
Offer choice.
Do not turn food into another test.
“You done?” he asked.
Lily nodded cautiously.
“Okay.”
“That’s it?”
“That’s it.”
She stared at him.
Then she smiled a little.
Later that night, Detective Chen called.
“We found one more thing in Margaret’s financial records.”
Daniel sighed.
May you like
“What now?”
“A payment to someone at Lily’s school.”
