Chapter 6 - THE FIRST LIE
I called Claire.
She answered on the third ring.
“Hey, baby.”
Her voice was perfectly calm.
“Where are you?”
“In my hotel room.”
“Are you alone?”
Silence.
A short silence.
But I heard it.
“Yes.”
“Who is Daniel?”
The line went dead.
I stared at my phone.
Then it rang.
Claire.
I answered.
“What did you just say?”
“Who is Daniel?”
“You've been going through my things?”
“Lily showed me something.”
Another silence.
Then Claire whispered:
“What did she show you?”
That was when I knew.
She already knew.
I closed my eyes.
“The recorder.”
Claire breathed out.
“Ethan, listen to me.”
“No.”
“Please.”
“Who was the man?”
“I don't know.”
“You said his name was Daniel.”
“I never said that.”
“You said, ‘Daniel is dead.’”
Claire went silent.
I felt sick.
“Claire.”
“I can explain.”
“Then explain.”
“He threatened me.”
“Why?”
“Because of money.”
“What money?”
“I don't know.”
I laughed bitterly.
“You don't know?”
“I was young.”
“When?”
“Years ago.”
“Before we met?”
“Yes.”
“Did you hurt him?”
“No!”
Her answer came too quickly.
I sat down.
“Then why is he alive?”
“I don't know if he is.”
“The man on the recording said you promised him the girl would never talk.”
Claire's voice changed.
“Lily is not supposed to have that recording.”
My stomach turned.
“What does that mean?”
“Ethan, listen to me. You need to take Lily to Rachel's house.”
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“Who is threatening us?”
She didn't answer.
“Claire.”
“Don't trust anyone.”
The line went dead.
I stood in the kitchen.
The house suddenly felt different.
Every room seemed to contain a secret.
Every shadow seemed to move.
Then my phone buzzed.
A text message.
Unknown number.
SHE LIED ABOUT THE CRASH.
Another message arrived.
SHE LIED ABOUT DANIEL.
Then a third.
ASK HER WHAT HAPPENED TO THE WOMAN WHO KNEW THE TRUTH.
I stared at the screen.
I wanted to call the police.
But I had one problem.
I had no idea who to trust.
And the only person who knew the truth was my wife.
The same woman who had told me her first husband was dead.
The same woman who had told me her daughter simply didn't like me.
The same woman who had spent eight months convincing me that a terrified child was the problem.
I went upstairs.
Lily was sitting on her bed.
“Daddy?”
I knelt in front of her.
“Pack a small bag.”
Her eyes widened.
“Are we leaving?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“Somewhere safe.”
She looked toward the hallway.
“Is Mommy coming?”
I didn't answer immediately.
That was enough.
Lily began to cry.
I sat beside her.
“I promise you something.”
“What?”
“No matter what happens, I will believe you.”
She stared at me.
Then she reached for my hand.
For the first time since I had met her, she held it.
And at that moment, I realized something.
May you like
The child had never hated me.
She had been afraid that loving me would get me hurt.
