Chapter 4 - CLAIRE'S VERSION
Claire sat across from Daniel in a conference room at the sheriff's office, a deputy between them.
"Daniel, you are letting a stranger turn you against your wife."
Daniel stared at her. "A stranger recorded you tying my son to a horse."
"I was trying to keep him from running into traffic."
"You threw away his inhaler."
"I panicked."
"You tightened the rope."
Claire's jaw flickered.
"The video is misleading."
Daniel almost laughed. "The video has sound, Claire."
She leaned toward him. "Ethan needs help. I've been trying to tell you that for months. He lies. He breaks things. He fixates on his mother. Tonight he hit me and ran."
"Stop."
"You don't want to hear it because you feel guilty."
Daniel's hand curled against the table.
"I love him. I have done everything for that boy."
"Then why does he have a rule that says don't tell Dad?"
Then she recovered. "He's making that up."
Deputy Grant entered carrying an evidence bag.
"We found the inhaler in the ditch. Serial number matches Ethan's prescription."
Claire looked at Daniel. "You think this proves I'm a monster?"
"I think I don't know you."
"No," she said. "You don't know your son."
Daniel stood.
Claire stood too. "Ask him about the night Lily died."
The room went still.
Daniel's face changed. "Do not say her name."
"Ask him," Claire repeated. "Ask Ethan what he remembers."
Grant stepped between them.
Daniel's voice dropped. "My wife died in a car accident. Ethan was five."
Claire smiled faintly. "And he's spent three years believing it was his fault. Why do you think that is?"
Daniel stared at her.
Claire lowered her voice to a whisper meant only for him.
"Because someone told him the truth."
Daniel's heart pounded.
"What truth?"
Claire sat back down.
May you like
"Go ask your son what his mother said right before she drove away."
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