Both of us went still.
A key entered my lock.
Only three people had keys to my house.
Rosie.
Ben.
My father.
Daniel closed the laptop and pulled his gun.
The door opened.
My father stepped inside.
He carried a paper grocery bag.
“Claire?”
He saw Daniel.
The bag slipped slightly in his arms, then steadied.
“Detective Mercer.”
“Mr. Hale.”
“What are you doing in my daughter’s house?”
Daniel moved between us.
My father looked at the laptop.
Then at the flash drive.
For the first time in my life, I saw his mask disappear.
Not completely.
Just enough.
His eyes became flat.
“You found it,” he said.
I felt something inside me tear loose.
“You killed her.”
He placed the grocery bag carefully on the floor.
“No.”
“I watched the video.”
“You watched part of a video.”
“You carried her body.”
“No.”
“You put her in the trunk.”
“No.”
“Stop lying!”
“I was trying to save her.”
My anger faltered.
