Chapter 10 - Choose a Side.
Daniel stepped into the hallway to take Patricia's call.
Claire could hear only fragments through the apartment door.
"Mom, stop."
A pause.
"No, I'm not saying that."
Another pause.
"I said stop calling relatives."
Claire stood in the kitchen with both hands flat against the counter.
She did not want to listen.
She also refused to pretend the conversation was not happening.
Daniel returned five minutes later.
His face was pale.
"She says the lawyer thinks the family should stop communicating with you directly."
Claire stared at him.
"Then why did she call you?"
Daniel had no answer.
"What did she want?"
"She wanted to know what Lily told the police."
Claire's anger sharpened instantly.
"And what did you tell her?"
"Nothing."
"Are you sure?"
Daniel flinched.
"Claire."
"I am asking because your mother knew Lily was awake before she should have known."
Daniel stared at her.
"You think I told her?"
"Did you?"
"No."
Claire believed him, but only barely.
Trust had become expensive.
Every assumption now demanded proof.
Daniel sat at the table.
"I grew up with them."
Claire waited.
"My mother could make a room feel like you were wrong just for disagreeing with her."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"My father always backed her."
"Daniel."
He finally met Claire's eyes.
"I don't think they're telling the truth."
The words should have brought relief.
Instead, Claire felt exhausted.
"Then say it clearly."
Daniel swallowed.
"I believe something happened upstairs, and I believe they're hiding it."
Claire nodded once.
"Thank you."
He rubbed both hands over his face.
"But I don't know what."
"Neither do I."
"What if it was an accident?"
Claire's voice stayed controlled.
"Accidents don't require four versions of the same story."
Daniel looked away.
From the bedroom, Lily called softly.
"Mom?"
Both parents rushed in.
Lily was sitting up with the rabbit in her lap.
She looked at Daniel and began to cry.
Daniel stopped several feet from the bed.
"Hey, bug."
Lily reached for him.
He sat carefully beside her.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there."
Lily leaned against him.
For several minutes nobody spoke.
Then Lily looked at Claire.
"Are Grandma and Grandpa mad at me?"
Claire answered immediately.
"You do not need to worry about their feelings."
Daniel nodded.
"Your job is to get better."
Lily stared at the rabbit's long ears.
"Grandma said if I called Mom, everybody would get in trouble."
Daniel went completely still.
Claire looked at him.
Lily continued in the same small voice.
"Grandpa said I should listen because Grandma was already upset."
Claire's eyes filled with tears.
Daniel stood and walked out of the room.
Claire followed him into the hall.
He was shaking.
"She told Lily not to call you."
"Yes."
"My father knew."
"It sounds like he did."
Daniel pulled out his phone.
"What are you doing?"
"Calling Ruiz."
Claire watched him dial.
For the first time since the hospital, Daniel sounded certain.
"Detective, this is Daniel Morgan."
He looked at Claire.
"I need to give a statement about my parents."
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Then he added something Claire had not expected.
"And I need to tell you what my mother did when I was a kid."
