Chapter 3 - The Woman Who Answered
Adrian ended the call.
He didn’t threaten her.
That frightened me more than shouting would have.
Dr. Sloan stepped into the hall to speak with security, leaving the door open just enough for us to see her.
I pulled down my sweater.
“Your mother answered your phone.”
Adrian looked at me.
“The morning I called. I know it now.”
“Why didn’t you leave a message?”
“I did.”
“Claire—”
“Three. Then I called the house. Your housekeeper said my things were gone.”
His face tightened.
“They told me you’d collected them.”
“They were delivered in trash bags.”
He looked away.
That small movement made me angrier than any denial.
“You believed it.”
“I believed what I was shown.”
“Then somebody made it easy.”
He nodded once.
“Yes.”
I’d expected excuses.
His agreement left me with nowhere to put my anger.
“What were you shown?”
“Bank records. Messages. A report that you’d shared my schedule with a man tied to the Bellante crew.”
I laughed, but there was no humor in it.
“I taught second grade.”
“I know.”
“No. You knew I taught second grade. Then somebody handed you paper, and apparently paper knew me better.”
He took the hit.
“I should have asked you.”
“You should have come home.”
For a moment, the room was quiet except for the printer outside.
Then he said, “I did.”
I looked up.
“The night before the divorce papers. Your sister met me downstairs.”
“Emma?”
“She said you were afraid of me.”
My hands went cold.
“She said you wanted a clean break. That seeing me would make it worse.”
Emma had driven me to the lawyer’s office.
Emma had held my hand while I signed.
Emma had told me leaving Chicago would make me look unstable.
My phone buzzed in my purse.
A message from her.
How’s the appointment? Send me a picture of our girl.
Adrian read my face.
“What?”
I showed him.
Before he could answer, Dr. Sloan returned with a hospital security officer.
“The transportation company says the request came from your sister.”
I couldn’t breathe.
“No.”
“They have her number.”
Emma had bought the crib.
Emma knew my due date.
Emma was the only person besides my doctor who knew exactly where I’d be that morning.
My phone rang.
Her picture filled the screen.
Adrian whispered, “Don’t answer.”
I pressed accept.
“Hey,” Emma said brightly. “Everything okay?”
I looked at the false death entry still glowing on the monitor.
“Why did you send a car?”
The brightness disappeared.
“Claire. Listen carefully.”
“Why?”
“Whatever Adrian tells you, don’t leave with him.”
May you like
Then, in the background, I heard Lucia’s voice.
“Ask her if she signed.”
