Chapter 15 - LILY’S LIE
Grant dragged Lily closer.
“Where at home?”
Lily shook her head.
“I forgot.”
Grant’s face hardened.
Daniel kept his voice steady.
“She’s six.”
“Let her go and I’ll tell you.”
“You don’t know.”
“I know what the key opens.”
Grant stared at him.
Daniel was bluffing.
But Grant did not know that.
Outside, Mark moved closer to the side door.
Daniel saw the shadow beneath the curtain.
Claire saw it too.
For once, she did something useful.
She kicked the table over.
Grant turned instinctively.
Daniel lunged.
Lily dropped to the floor.
Mark burst through the side door.
Grant swung at Daniel.
Daniel drove him into the wall.
Claire screamed for Lily to run.
Lily crawled toward Mark.
A siren sounded in the distance.
Grant heard it.
Panic replaced arrogance.
He shoved Daniel away and ran for the back door.
Detective Alvarez met him outside.
“Police!”
Grant turned toward the woods.
Two officers tackled him before he reached the trees.
Daniel did not watch the arrest.
He was already on his knees holding Lily.
“I’m sorry, Daddy.”
“For what?”
“I lied about the bird.”
Daniel held her tighter.
“That was the bravest lie I’ve ever heard.”
Across the room, Claire remained tied to the chair.
Her lip was bleeding.
She looked at Lily.
“I’m sorry.”
Lily hid her face against Daniel.
Daniel’s voice went cold.
“Do not ask her to make you feel better.”
Claire began crying again.
Alvarez entered and cut her free only to place her in handcuffs.
“For child abuse, fraud, and conspiracy, for starters.”
Claire did not resist.
As officers led her out, she turned toward Daniel.
“The red bird is not money.”
Daniel stared at her.
“What is it?”
Claire swallowed.
“It’s the proof Sarah died trying to protect.”
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Then she added one final warning.
“And Grant is not the only person named in it.”
