Chapter 5 - THE LAST THING MAISIE REMEMBERED
Graham looked from the officer to Sloane.
“What is this?”
The officer held a folder.
“Mr. Grant, we received a report regarding an incident involving your daughter.”
Graham immediately stepped forward.
“From who?”
The officer looked at Sloane.
Graham understood.
“She called you?”
The officer nodded.
“She reported concerns about Maisie’s safety.”
Graham almost laughed.
Almost.
“You’re here because she claimed my daughter was dangerous?”
The officer stayed professional.
“We’re here to investigate.”
Sloane crossed her arms.
“I’m only trying to protect her.”
Graham looked at her.
“No.”
His voice was quiet.
“You’re trying to protect yourself.”
The officer opened the folder.
“There is one thing we need to clarify.”
“What?”
“We found another report.”
Graham frowned.
“What report?”
The officer looked down.
“A previous complaint.”
“About Maisie?”
“No.”
A pause.
“About Sloane.”
The air changed.
Sloane’s face went pale.
Graham stared.
“From who?”
The officer turned the page.
“A former fiancé.”
Ethan Brooks.
Again.
Graham felt the pieces connect.
But before he could speak, his phone rang.
It was Maisie’s school.
He answered immediately.
“Hello?”
The voice on the other end sounded worried.
“Mr. Grant, there’s something you need to know.”
“What happened?”
“We found a letter in Maisie’s backpack.”
Graham’s heart dropped.
“What letter?”
The teacher hesitated.
“A goodbye letter.”
Graham froze.
“Goodbye?”
“Yes.”
The teacher’s voice became softer.
“She wrote that she was sorry for being difficult.”
Graham closed his eyes.
No.
No child should ever believe that.
Then the teacher said:
“But Mr. Grant…”
“Yes?”
“She didn’t write it alone.”
Graham opened his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“We found another handwriting on the page.”
A cold feeling moved through him.
“Whose handwriting?”
The teacher whispered:
“It matches Sloane Whitmore’s.”
Graham looked at Sloane.
And for the first time…
She looked afraid.
Because Graham finally understood.
May you like
The chain around Maisie’s ankle was only the thing he could see.
The real damage had been happening where nobody was watching.
