Chapter 5 - CLAIRE WOULDN’T QUIT
Claire had been told to leave the visitation building.
She refused.
“My husband was dragged away in front of our baby.”
“Ma’am—”
“Stop calling me ma’am and tell me where Ethan is.”
The front-desk officer sighed.
“We’re under lockdown.”
“Is he safe?”
“I don’t have that information.”
“Then find somebody who does.”
Rosie was crying against Claire’s shoulder.
Claire bounced her gently.
“It’s okay, sweetheart.”
It wasn’t okay.
Nothing had been okay for three years.
Claire walked outside into the parking lot.
Rain had started.
Of course it had.
Every terrible day in her life seemed to come with rain.
She strapped Rosie into the car seat, climbed behind the wheel, and locked the doors.
Her phone rang.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
She answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
“Hello?”
Then a voice.
“You need to stop.”
Claire’s fingers tightened around the phone.
“Who is this?”
“You went to see Mr. Talbot yesterday.”
Her blood turned cold.
Harold Talbot.
The retired owner of the hardware store near the shooting.
The man who had called Claire three days earlier and said five words that changed everything.
I think I found something.
“Who is this?”
“Forget the tape.”
Claire looked around the parking lot.
Cars.
Fences.
Guard tower.
No movement.
“What tape?”
The caller laughed softly.
“Smart.”
Then he hung up.
Claire immediately called Ethan’s new lawyer.
Dana Brooks answered on the second ring.
“Claire?”
“Someone just threatened me.”
“What?”
Claire told her everything.
Dana’s voice sharpened.
“Drive straight to the sheriff’s office.”
“I’m at the prison.”
“Leave.”
“Ethan’s inside!”
“And somebody knows you found Talbot.”
Claire stared toward the prison walls.
“I’m not abandoning him.”
“Claire, listen to me. Ethan needs you safe more than he needs you sitting in a parking lot.”
Rosie started fussing again.
Claire looked back at her daughter.
That settled it.
She started the car.
Twenty minutes later, she pulled into the county sheriff’s office.
Dana was already waiting.
Short black hair.
Gray suit.
No patience.
She opened Claire’s passenger door.
“You okay?”
“No.”
“Good answer.”
Claire handed over her phone.
“The call came from this number.”
Dana photographed it.
“Talbot gave me the original footage.”
“Where is it?”
“Not with me.”
Dana stared at her.
“Claire.”
“I’m not stupid.”
“Where is it?”
Claire hesitated.
Then reached under Rosie’s diaper bag.
She pulled out a stuffed rabbit.
Dana blinked.
“You’re kidding.”
Claire opened a seam along the rabbit’s back.
Inside was a flash drive.
Dana stared.
“You hid evidence in a baby toy?”
“Nobody steals the baby toy.”
“That is either brilliant or insane.”
“Three years married to Ethan. I’m comfortable with both.”
For the first time all day, Dana smiled.
Then the sheriff’s office doors opened.
A deputy rushed outside.
“Mrs. Cole?”
Claire stood.
“Yes?”
“You need to come inside.”
“What happened?”
The deputy looked at Dana, then back at Claire.
“There was an incident at Graystone.”
Claire’s face went white.
“Ethan?”
“We don’t have confirmation yet.”
Rosie began to cry.
Claire grabbed the deputy’s arm.
“Tell me if my husband is alive.”
The deputy opened his mouth.
Before he could answer, Claire’s phone rang again.
UNKNOWN NUMBER.
She hit speaker.
May you like
This time, Ray Damon’s voice was unmistakable.
“You should’ve left the rabbit at home.”
