Chapter 9 - No More Running
Daniel got Emma into the school office and called Reyes before going anywhere near the man. By the time officers checked the lot, the van was gone, but a security camera had recorded the license plate.
"You did the right thing," Reyes told him.
"I wanted to chase him."
"I know. And now I have a plate number instead of another injured person."
That afternoon, the hospital allowed Emma a short visit with Claire. She climbed carefully onto a chair beside the bed, holding a crayon drawing of three stick figures and a dog with enormous ears.
"I made you tall," she told her mother. "So you could reach the ceiling if you needed help."
Claire laughed, then winced. Her head hurt when she laughed. The room went quiet.
"It's okay," she whispered. "I want to laugh with you."
Daniel watched his daughter smooth the edge of Claire's blanket. He knew that fear could make a child grow too careful. Emma was trying to keep both parents together with a box of crayons.
After Grace took her home, Claire spoke about the morning of Helen's funeral. Mallory had cornered her in the church hall and demanded the envelope Darlene was holding.
"I told her I'd open it when the service was over," Claire said. "She asked if I wanted the whole family ruined in public."
"And the cross?"
"Helen gave it to me because she trusted me. Mallory thought it was a signal. Like I was going to stand up during the funeral and accuse her. I was going to wait until everyone went home."
Daniel stared at the floor. "I wish I'd listened to Mom."
"Listen now. She said the theft was ugly, but it wasn't the worst thing."
"What could be worse?"
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Claire turned her face toward him. "Your sister was using people's homes as collateral. Some of them don't even know their houses are at risk."
Before he could ask another question, Nadia called. She had found a property lien recorded against Mrs. Price's address that morning.
