Chapter 6 - The Lie Before the Marriage
Daniel didn't speak on the drive home.
They didn't find him.
At the house, Robert was waiting in the study.
Evelyn sat on the sofa with a security guard by the door.
Daniel walked in and dropped a copy of the letter on the desk.
"Is Marcus my father?"
Evelyn's eyes flicked to me.
That was her first mistake.
Robert saw it.
"Answer him."
She stood slowly. "Daniel, things were complicated."
"Yes or no."
"Biology doesn't make a father."
Daniel laughed once, broken and bitter.
Robert sat down hard.
Claire began to cry.
"You knew?" Robert asked.
"I knew there was a possibility."
"For twenty-eight years?"
"You loved him."
"That's your defense?"
Evelyn's voice sharpened. "I gave you a family. I built this life with you."
Robert pointed toward the ledger bag Ortiz had taken. "And then you robbed it."
"I protected myself."
There it was.
Not denial.
Justification.
I reached for his hand.
He didn't take mine.
Instead he looked at me and said, "Did you know?"
"About Marcus being your father? No."
"But you heard them talking."
"Yesterday. I recorded what I could."
"Why didn't you tell me right away?"
The question hit me like another slap.
"Because every time your mother insulted me, you told me to keep the peace. I wanted proof before you told me I misunderstood her again."
He closed his eyes.
Robert looked at his son. "She's right."
Daniel flinched.
A patrol officer entered. "Detective Ortiz needs everyone to stay here. Marcus Hale's phone just came back online."
"Where?" Robert asked.
The officer looked at me.
"At Mrs. Bennett's apartment building."
I stared at him.
"My apartment?"
Then my phone buzzed.
A motion alert from my living-room camera.
I opened it.
May you like
Marcus was standing inside my home.
And he was holding a gas can.
