Chapter 13 - “DANIEL CAN HANDLE HER”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
I didn’t speak.
“Rachel, no.”
The recording continued.
Greg said, “You sure about that?”
Evelyn answered, “He’ll protect me.”
Then came the sentence that destroyed whatever was left of my marriage.
“If I tell Daniel she’s trying to ruin this family, he’ll choose me.”
I stopped the recording.
Daniel stepped toward me.
“That doesn’t mean I agreed to anything.”
“I know.”
“You have to believe me.”
“I do.”
He looked confused.
“I believe you didn’t know about that conversation.”
“Then—”
“But she was right.”
His face went blank.
“You did choose her.”
“Rachel.”
“You drove me here knowing she was going to accuse me.”
“I told you—”
“You stood there when she grabbed my hair.”
“I froze!”
“You told me to let her go after she hit me.”
“I was confused.”
“You tried to stop the recording.”
“I was scared.”
“You gave Greg our address.”
“I screwed up!”
“Yes.”
I was crying now.
I hated that.
I wanted to stay cold.
But sometimes anger holds your body together until grief finally gets through.
“I needed one person in that room to stand beside me.”
Daniel’s eyes filled.
“I’m sorry.”
“I needed my husband.”
“I know.”
“You were standing six feet away.”
His face broke.
“I know.”
I nodded.
“That’s the part I’ll never forget.”
Nobody spoke.
Even Evelyn looked ashamed.
I grabbed my coat.
Then the front window exploded.
Glass flew across the living room.
Everyone screamed.
Officer Carter rushed back inside.
“DOWN!”
He pulled his weapon.
A second crash came from the kitchen.
Frank dragged Grandma Rose behind the couch.
Daniel grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to the floor.
For once, his instinct was to protect me.
Too late.
Officer Carter moved toward the hallway.
“Stay down!”
A shadow crossed the backyard.
Then a man slammed into the kitchen door.
Once.
Twice.
The lock held.
Evelyn screamed.
“Greg!”
The pounding stopped.
Silence.
Then his voice came through the broken window.
“Evelyn!”
She sobbed.
“I know you have the drive!”
Frank turned to her.
“What drive?”
Evelyn froze.
Greg shouted again.
“GIVE IT TO ME!”
Officer Carter yelled, “Police! Show your hands!”
Footsteps ran.
Then another gunshot-like crack.
Except it wasn’t a gunshot.
The back window shattered.
Officer Carter moved fast.
Daniel shielded me with his body.
For the first time, I heard fear in Greg’s voice.
“You think cops scare me?”
Then Evelyn whispered something only I heard.
“Oh God.”
I looked at her.
“What drive?”
She started shaking.
And I knew.
May you like
Once again, there was another secret.
Bigger than the last.
