Chapter 8 - The Woman at the Motel
Police found Mara at a motel outside Raleigh. She came to the hospital with a lawyer the next morning, but she was not allowed to walk into the children's rooms. Carmen and the officers kept the encounter separate while investigators assessed immediate safety.
Through the glass of a conference-room door, I saw Mara sitting with both hands clasped. She looked exhausted. For one absurd second I wanted to ask if she'd eaten.
Then I remembered Lily and Tommy on the floor.
"You knew he was sick," I said when I sat down with Anita beside me.
"I thought it was a cold," Mara answered. "Nolan wanted one last interview before you got home. Then he wouldn't give me the account passwords. We argued. I went after him."
"For how long?"
"I didn't plan it."
"How long, Mara?"
She began crying. "About thirty-six hours."
I stared at her. "Thirty-six hours you left a seven-year-old to care for a three-year-old."
"I texted you. I thought you'd be home sooner."
"You told me not to come home. You said they were asleep."
Her lawyer asked us to stop discussing details while the criminal inquiry was open. Mara leaned forward anyway.
"I got into debt. Nolan said he could help. At first it was just telling our story. Then it became bigger."
"There was no story. You made it."
She didn't deny it. Her eyes moved toward the hallway where Lily was sleeping.
"Can I see her?"
"Not today," I said. "She finally feels safe enough to close her eyes."
May you like
Mara's mouth tightened. "Nolan still has a copy of the full video. He says he can prove you're dangerous."
I stood to leave. Behind me she said, barely audible, "He isn't bluffing. I signed the release in your name."
