Chapter 2 - Dad's Rule
Amanda stopped two feet from the table.
Nobody moved.
Daniel's voice crackled through the tiny recorder.
"Do not give it to anyone. Not even family."
Ethan fumbled for the side button and shut it off.
Amanda forced a laugh. "Your father was sick when he made that. He wasn't thinking clearly."
"He made it before his trip," Ethan said.
"Exactly. He was stressed."
Lily stared at her mother. "Why are you scared?"
"I'm not scared."
"You look scared."
Amanda grabbed her wineglass too quickly. Red wine splashed across the white tablecloth.
Ethan remembered the night Daniel had placed the recorder in his hand. Dad had been packing for a two-day drive to Cincinnati to meet the family attorney.
"This is boring grown-up stuff," Daniel had said. "But if I don't come back when I'm supposed to, keep it hidden."
Ethan had laughed. "Like spy stuff?"
Daniel hadn't laughed back.
Two days later, police said Daniel's SUV had gone through a guardrail on a wet highway.
Amanda told everyone it was an accident.
Now she held out her hand.
"Give it to me."
Ethan stood.
"No."
For the first time in months, he said it without looking at the floor.
Amanda's expression changed.
"I am your legal guardian."
"Dad said not to."
"Your father is dead."
Lily flinched.
Ethan's fingers tightened around the device.
Amanda realized what she had said and softened her voice. "Sweetheart, I didn't mean it like that. I'm trying to protect you."
"From what?"
Amanda didn't answer.
Then Lily pointed toward the device.
"It records when the red light is on, right?"
Ethan nodded.
Lily looked at her mother.
"Then it recorded dinner."
Amanda's eyes dropped to the blinking light.
May you like
She lunged.
Ethan ran.
