Chapter 5 - The Price of Quiet
Émilie knew they needed money.
She knew because June had started cutting paper towels in half.
Because the heater stayed low.
Because her father’s wedding ring sat in a little dish beside a pawnshop estimate.
Her mother had died when Émilie was seven. Daniel had worn that ring ever since.
Now Mark Ellison’s offer covered everything they were afraid to say out loud.
Daniel stared at the signature line.
June set a cup of coffee beside him.
“We’re not deciding this tonight.”
“It would get you out from under my bills.”
“I’m your sister. I’m not under anything.”
“You took unpaid leave.”
“And I’d do it again.”
Émilie stood in the doorway.
“Would signing make it a lie?”
Daniel looked up.
“Yes.”
“Then why are you looking at the pen?”
The question landed harder than she intended.
He pushed the document away.
“Because being scared can make a bad choice look reasonable.”
She crossed the room and leaned against his chair.
“I don’t need dance lessons anymore.”
“What?”
“You can cancel them. And I don’t need the trip in spring.”
Daniel’s face folded.
“Those things aren’t your job to fix.”
“I know. But I can help.”
He took her hand.
“You already do.”
The next morning, June called a legal aid office that referred them to a lawyer named Elena Price. Elena agreed to review the letter and settlement that afternoon.
“Don’t sign anything,” she said. “Don’t contact Ellison directly. Save every message.”
Meanwhile, Luis called former coworkers.
Ben contacted the hospital social worker who had handled their crash paperwork.
Marcus, the shuttle driver, sat at Daniel’s kitchen table and turned an unopened soda can between his hands.
“I need to tell you something.”
Daniel waited.
“The morning of the crash, I reported a soft brake pedal.”
June stopped washing dishes.
“To who?”
“The route supervisor.”
“What did he say?”
“That maintenance had cleared it.”
“Did you see the clearance?”
Marcus nodded.
“It had your number.”
Daniel went still.
“I hadn’t worked there in nine months.”
“I know that now.”
“Why didn’t you tell investigators?”
Marcus looked down.
“Because after the wreck, they gave me a different sheet. They said I’d mixed up the vehicles.”
Luis stood so quickly his chair scraped the floor.
“They changed it?”
Marcus finally opened his hand.
May you like
Inside was a small memory card.
“I took a picture of the first one.”
