Chapter 6: A Mother Against Her Own Daughter
Patricia placed the laptop on my dining table.
“I believed Ashley when she said you had agreed to help them,” she said.
“Then I heard her telling George that Daniel would take the blame.”
I remained standing.
“Why should I trust you?”
“You shouldn’t.
Not yet.”
She opened an email chain between Ashley, George and Samuel Pike.
Ashley had written: DANIEL USED HER SIGNATURE BEFORE.
IF THIS GOES WRONG, WE SAY HE PREPARED EVERYTHING.
Another message from George read: SAMUEL WILL SAY SHE SIGNED WHILE TIRED.
KEEP THE STORY SIMPLE.
Claire covered her mouth.
“They planned to make Daniel responsible.”
Patricia nodded.
“George says family must protect family.
Apparently, that only means protecting Ashley.”
“Why bring this to me?”
“Because Lucy heard them arguing.
She asked me whether her father was going to be taken away.”
Patricia’s eyes filled, but she kept both hands on the laptop.
“I helped pressure you,” she said.
“I spoke about your age as if it erased your rights.
I cannot undo that, but I can refuse to help them bury your son.”
Miriam arrived within twenty minutes and copied the emails to an encrypted drive.
“Is this the original laptop?” she asked.
“Yes.
Ashley left it at our house.”
“George will say you took it without permission.”
“He can say it to my face.”
The front door opened before I could answer.
Daniel still had an old key he had forgotten to return, and he stood there staring at Patricia.
“What are you doing here?”
“Saving you from your wife,” she said.
Daniel read the emails one by one.
His hand began to shake.
“She told me Mom had signed the letter.”
“And you chose not to check,” Patricia replied.
He looked at me.
“I was afraid Ashley would take the children.”
“You let her use that same fear against me.”
“I know.”
“No, Daniel.
Say it properly.”
He closed the laptop.
“I let my wife lie about you because disagreeing with her made my life difficult.”
The room stayed quiet.
“And when she threatened your relationship with Lucy and Ben,” he continued, “I left you alone because I was relieved the threat wasn’t aimed at me.”
My throat tightened.
“That is the first honest thing you’ve said.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I love you, Daniel.
But an apology cannot carry the weight of what you signed.”
He wiped his face.
“Then tell me what can.”
“The truth, where it costs you something.”
Daniel took out his phone.
“I recorded Ashley and George last night.”
His recording began with George’s voice: “Delete the emails and let Daniel take responsibility for the signatures.”
Then Ashley answered: “Once his mother loses control of the house, Daniel will forgive me.
He always does.”
Daniel looked toward Patricia.
“She never did.”
“No,” Patricia said.
“Not this time.”
A message flashed across Daniel’s screen.
ASHLEY: Lucy and Ben are with me.
If you give that recording to your mother, don’t expect to see them again.
Daniel showed it to Miriam.
“She took them out of school early,” he said.
“I don’t know where they are.”
Patricia grabbed her coat.
“I do.”
“Where?”
“George’s lake cabin.”
Daniel headed for the door, but Miriam blocked him.
“You are not going there angry and alone.”
“That’s my daughter.”
“And Ashley wants you frightened enough to make a mistake.”
My phone rang.
Lucy’s name appeared on the screen.
May you like
“Grandma?” she whispered when I answered.
“Mom says we’re going far away tonight.”
