Chapter 6: What Was Sewn Into the Lining
Claire found a seam ripper in her sewing kit.
We sat at the kitchen table — me, Claire, Daniel — while Sophie and Lily had been moved to Lily's room with the door closed and the television on low.
I could hear the faint sound of a cartoon through the wall.
The backpack was small and faded, covered in hand-drawn stars in blue marker.
The kind of thing a mother makes special so her daughter will love it.
Claire worked the seam ripper along the inner lining carefully, like she was trying not to damage something that had already been through enough.
A small USB drive fell onto the table.
We all looked at it.
"Has anyone listened to it?" I said.
"No," Daniel said.
"Mara said not to.
She said to give it directly to you and let you decide what to do with it."
I picked it up.
It was the size of my thumbnail, wrapped in a small square of paper secured with a rubber band.
I slid the rubber band off and unfolded the paper.
Mara's handwriting again.
The same careful, pressed-hard script from the back of the photograph.
*Ryan — if you're reading this, then Daniel kept his promise and you know the truth.
I'm sorry I didn't find a way to tell you sooner.
I was afraid, and then I was sick, and then there wasn't enough time left to do it right.*
*The recording on this drive is Victor admitting what he did to me when I was nineteen.
I kept it because it was the only thing that kept him from coming after me.
Now I'm giving it to you because Sophie needs someone stronger than me to protect her.*
*Please don't let him take her.
She is the best thing I ever did.*
I folded the paper and set it down.
Claire had stopped moving.
She was reading the last lines from across the table.
"She trusted you," Claire said.
Not accusatory.
Just quiet.
"She trusted that I'd do the right thing," I said.
"She didn't know me anymore.
She was betting on who I used to be."
"Are you going to prove her right?"
I looked at the USB drive in my palm.
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed on the counter.
Unknown number.
I let it ring once, twice.
Daniel's face changed.
"Don't answer it."
I answered it.
The voice on the other end was calm and unhurried, the voice of a man who had never needed to raise it to get what he wanted.
"Mr.
Callahan," he said.
"My name is Victor.
I believe you have something of mine.
I'd like to discuss a very simple arrangement — one that's good for everyone, especially for the little girl." A pause.
"I can be at your door in twenty minutes.
I'd suggest you don't involve the police.
May you like
That would make things much more difficult for Sophie."
The line went d*ad.
