[CHAPTER 9]
Detective Grant told me not to speculate.
“Heart attacks happen,” she said.
“I know.”
“Threats inside a marriage happen too.”
“I know.”
“That doesn't mean homicide.”
“I know.”
She leaned forward.
“Claire, I need you to hear me.”
We sat in a small interview room at the police station.
“You have enough real danger in front of you. Don't let fear fill in blanks.”
I nodded.
She was right.
Margaret had done terrible things.
I didn't need to invent more.
“Are you reopening Richard's death?”
“We're reviewing the records.”
“That's not an answer.”
“It's the only answer I can give.”
I looked at the folder in her hand.
“What about the custody petition?”
“That's family court.”
“I know.”
“But the criminal evidence is available to your attorney.”
“Good.”
Detective Grant's expression changed.
“There is another problem.”
Of course there was.
“What?”
“Someone attempted to access the evidence portal last night using Daniel's credentials.”
My heart dropped.
“Daniel?”
“We don't know.”
“Why does Daniel have credentials?”
“He doesn't. He has a victim-witness access account for certain reports.”
“And someone tried to access more?”
“Yes.”
“From where?”
“A computer at Bennett Development.”
Daniel's company.
My stomach tightened.
“Could Daniel have done it?”
“Ask him.”
I did.
He looked stunned.
We met at Thomas's office.
“I wasn't even at work last night.”
“Where were you?”
“At group therapy.”
Thomas looked up.
“You can verify that?”
“Yes.”
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“Check-in log. Parking receipt. Therapist.”
I studied him.
He noticed.
“I didn't do this, Claire.”
“I want to believe you.”
Pain crossed his face.
“I understand.”
Thomas tapped the desk.
“Who else has access to your office?”
“My assistant.”
“Anyone else?”
Daniel hesitated.
“My mother had a keycard.”
“Had?”
“I canceled it after the party.”
Thomas frowned.
“Did you physically recover the card?”
“No.”
“Then she still has the card.”
“But it's disabled.”
“Unless someone reactivated it.”
Daniel went pale.
“Andrew.”
I remembered the affidavit supporting Margaret.
“Your cousin?”
“He manages building security.”
Thomas immediately picked up the phone.
By that afternoon, company logs showed Andrew had restored Margaret's keycard access thirty-six hours after Daniel canceled it.
Andrew claimed it was an accident.
No one believed him.
Police recovered security footage.
Margaret had entered Bennett Development at 11:43 p.m.
She left forty minutes later.
Her bail conditions prohibited her from tampering with evidence.
By sunset, prosecutors moved to revoke her bond.
The family court hearing happened the next morning.
Margaret appeared in a navy suit.
No diamonds.
No dramatic makeup.
She looked like someone's respectable grandmother.
Sophie wasn't there.
I refused to bring her.
Daniel sat behind his own attorney.
Not beside me.
That was important.
We weren't presenting ourselves as a united married couple.
We were presenting the truth.
Margaret's attorney spoke first.
He described my slap.
My “volatile temperament.”
My separation from Daniel.
My “emotional instability.”
Then he said the words I'd expected.
“Mrs. Bennett believes her granddaughter is currently living in an environment of chaos.”
My lawyer stood.
“Chaos Mrs. Bennett created.”
The judge silenced the exchange.
Then the video played.
I had seen it once.
Watching it in court was worse.
Sophie appeared through the glass.
Tiny.
Pink dress.
Chain around her.
Margaret stepped onto the porch.
The microphone barely caught her words.
“You can come back inside when you admit the truth.”
Sophie's voice was clearer.
“Daddy is my daddy.”
Margaret bent closer.
“We'll see about that.”
The courtroom went silent.
My lawyer showed the DNA result.
Then hospital photographs.
Then Detective Grant's report.
Margaret stared straight ahead.
Her attorney tried another approach.
“The chain was not intended to injure the child.”
The judge looked at him.
“Counsel, I suggest you reconsider that sentence.”
He sat down.
Then Daniel testified.
I hadn't known exactly what he would say.
My hands shook when he took the oath.
His attorney asked, “What did you see when you came onto the porch?”
Daniel looked toward me.
Then away.
“My daughter was chained to a post.”
“Did Mrs. Bennett tell you she had done it?”
“My mother did not deny it.”
“What did your wife ask you to do?”
“Release Sophie.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Because I was more concerned that Claire had struck my mother.”
“Did you strike Claire?”
“Yes.”
A whisper moved through the courtroom.
Daniel's face went red.
“Was Claire threatening you?”
“No.”
“Did she strike you?”
“No.”
“Did she threaten Margaret again?”
“No.”
“Why did you hit her?”
Daniel looked down.
“Because I was angry.”
His attorney paused.
“Do you believe Claire is dangerous to Sophie?”
Daniel's eyes lifted.
“No.”
“Do you believe Margaret is?”
Daniel looked at his mother.
For several seconds, he couldn't speak.
Margaret stared back.
I knew that look.
She was commanding him without words.
Daniel finally said, “Yes.”
Margaret's face changed.
“My mother hurt my daughter.”
His voice strengthened.
“She tried to convince me Sophie wasn't mine.”
He looked toward the judge.
“She manipulated me. But what I did was still my responsibility.”
I stopped breathing.
“I failed my daughter that day.”
Daniel's eyes filled.
“I will spend the rest of my life making sure I never do it again.”
Margaret whispered, “Traitor.”
The judge heard her.
So did Daniel.
He didn't look away.
At the end of the hearing, Margaret's petition was denied.
Not delayed.
Denied.
The judge issued a temporary no-contact order protecting Sophie.
Margaret couldn't call.
Visit.
Send gifts.
Appear at school.
Nothing.
Outside the courthouse, reporters shouted questions.
I kept walking.
Then Margaret's voice came from behind me.
“Claire!”
I stopped despite myself.
Two officers stood beside her.
Her bond revocation hearing was next.
She smiled.
“You think you've won?”
I didn't answer.
“You have no idea what Daniel is.”
I turned.
She continued.
“You think Richard's letter makes him a Bennett?”
Daniel stepped between us.
“Stop.”
Margaret laughed.
“You're Victor Hale's bastard.”
Daniel flinched.
Margaret saw it.
And smiled.
Then Daniel did something I never expected.
He looked at her calmly.
“Richard knew.”
Her smile disappeared.
“He knew exactly who I was.”
Margaret went pale.
Daniel stepped closer.
May you like
“And he still called me his son.”
For the first time, Margaret Bennett had nothing to say.
