Chapter 5 - The Blood in the Truck
"It wasn't Owen's blood," Daniel said.
Nora's mouth went dry.
"Whose was it?"
Daniel looked at Eli.
"Mine."
He rolled up his sleeve. A deep cut crossed his forearm beneath fresh stitches.
"Someone came to the lake house after us. Owen shoved me behind the garage. Glass broke. I got cut. We split up."
"And you left him?"
"He made me."
Nora's anger hit so hard she almost stood with Lucy in her arms.
"You let the father of my child run into the dark alone?"
"I was supposed to bring the evidence to you."
"But you didn't."
Daniel looked down.
"Dad was already at the hospital."
That silenced the room.
Eli stepped closer. "Who attacked you?"
"I didn't see his face."
"Convenient."
"I saw the ring."
Daniel pulled out his phone and found a photo from one of Charles's charity dinners.
A heavy silver signet ring flashed on the hand of Halcyon's board chairman, Everett Sloan.
Nora knew the name. Everyone in Dallas did.
Sloan had been standing beside Charles at every Mercer Foundation event for fifteen years.
Daniel's phone rang.
Mara Ellison.
He stared at the screen.
"Why is Mara calling you?" Nora asked.
Daniel answered.
Mara didn't say hello.
"Daniel, Halcyon security has Claire. They took the key."
Daniel stood.
"Which key?"
"The one you left her."
He looked at the brass key on Nora's blanket.
Then at Eli.
Two identical keys.
May you like
And suddenly Daniel understood.
"There are two lockers."
