Chapter 2 - The Locked Door
Grant’s head snapped toward the windows.
“You called the police?”
“I sent an emergency signal before I crossed the living room.”
Vanessa stared at me.
“You’re lying.”
“I don’t need you to believe me.”
The sirens grew louder.
Grant lowered his voice.
“Evelyn, think carefully.”
“I have been thinking carefully for eight weeks.”
“No.”
He glanced toward Vanessa.
“I mean about your career.”
That caught my attention.
Grant saw it.
And smiled.
It was the first real smile he had given me since I came home.
“You work federal operations.”
“You disappear for weeks.”
“You leave your daughter behind.”
“How do you think this looks?”
I felt anger rise inside me.
But anger was exactly what he wanted.
So I refused to give it to him.
“It looks like a father failed to protect his child.”
Grant shook his head.
“It looks like an unstable federal agent came home armed and threatened two civilians.”
Vanessa’s confidence returned.
“She pointed a gun at me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
“She threatened to kill me.”
“No, I didn’t.”
Grant reached inside his coat.
I shifted Lily behind my shoulder.
“Keep your hands where I can see them.”
He stopped.
His face tightened.
“I’m getting my phone.”
“Then tell me before you reach.”
For the first time, Vanessa seemed to understand that this was not some marital argument she could manipulate with tears.
Grant slowly removed his phone.
He raised it.
The screen was already recording.
“Say it again,” he said.
“Say what?”
“That you’re taking Lily.”
“I am taking Lily.”
He smiled faintly.
“You don’t have legal authority to remove her from this house.”
“She is my daughter.”
“She is my daughter too.”
Lily whispered behind me.
“No.”
Grant’s face changed.
Lily peeked over my shoulder.
Her eyes were wet.
“You said I wasn’t.”
My heart stopped.
Grant looked at her sharply.
“What are you talking about?”
“You said Mommy loved her job more.”
Lily swallowed.
“You said Vanessa was going to be my new mommy.”
Vanessa looked irritated.
Grant looked furious.
But neither looked surprised.
That was when someone pounded on the front door.
“Denver Police!”
Grant turned toward the entrance.
I noticed Vanessa step backward.
Not toward Grant.
Toward the hallway.
Toward the stairs.
She was trying to leave.
“Stay where you are.”
She ignored me.
Then Lily whispered something against my ear.
“Mommy.”
“Yes?”
“Don’t let her go upstairs.”
I looked at Lily.
Her face had gone white.
“Why?”
Lily began shaking again.
“She’ll hide the box.”
Vanessa stopped moving.
May you like
Grant stopped breathing.
And suddenly I knew the bruises were only the beginning.
