Chapter 9
Thomas Vale did not come for Evan.
He came because Robert Jr. had made a mistake.
He recruited the wrong driver.
Thomas entered the dining room.
Looked at Mother.
Then Dad.
His face held fifteen years of something close to hatred.
Mother recovered first.
“You should not be here.”
Thomas laughed.
“Still giving orders.”
She stared.
He looked at me.
“Your cousin called yesterday.”
“Robert Jr.?”
“Yes.”
“For?”
“He needed someone who knew the old lake route.”
I looked at Mother.
She said nothing.
Thomas continued.
“He told me to pick up a child.”
Emily crossed her arms.
“He actually said child?”
“No.”
Thomas looked at me.
“He said package.”
My jaw tightened.
Of course.
“Then?”
“He gave the address.”
Our parents' home.
“And the name.”
“Evan?”
He nodded.
Mother said sharply:
“He was never in danger.”
Thomas turned.
“You said the same thing about Sarah.”
Silence.
There.
Uncle Daniel's daughter.
My cousin.
“What happened to her?”
Thomas looked at me.
“She was taken to the lake house.”
Mother rolled her eyes.
“Protected.”
Thomas stared.
“She cried for three days.”
Mother's face remained flat.
“She was eight. Children cry.”
I felt sick.
Thomas continued.
“Daniel signed after they told him he wouldn't see her otherwise.”
Dad closed his eyes.
Emily whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Mother snapped:
“Stop being dramatic.”
Thomas laughed.
“You haven't changed.”
“No.”
Mother lifted her chin.
“I haven't.”
That was the frightening part.
Thomas looked at me.
“After Daniel signed, they kept Sarah another month.”
“Why?”
“To make sure he stayed gone.”
I looked at Dad.
He whispered:
“I didn't know that part.”
Mother looked at him.
“You knew enough.”
The same phrase.
Everyone in this family had enough.
Enough to participate.
Enough to stay silent.
Enough to pretend afterward.
I turned to Thomas.
“Where is Sarah now?”
“Colorado.”
“Does she know?”
“Everything.”
“Why didn't she come back?”
Thomas looked at Mother.
“Would you?”
Fair.
He reached into his coat.
Pulled out a small brass token.
Not paperwork.
A Bennett family marker.
Old.
Blackened with age.
I recognized the symbol.
The mark of the lake house custody room.
My stomach turned.
“What is that?”
“Robert Jr. gave it to me.”
Mother stared.
Thomas continued.
“Same room.”
I stopped breathing.
“They were putting Evan where they put Sarah.”
Nobody moved.
Mother finally snapped:
“For a night!”
Thomas turned.
“That's what you told Daniel.”
Silence.
Mother's mouth closed.
I looked at her.
She had just confirmed it.
Again.
Always through arrogance.
Never confession.
I asked Thomas:
“What happens after Evan arrives?”
He looked uncomfortable.
“Robert Jr. said Claire will sign anything once the boy is out of reach.”
There.
Mother stared at the table.
Dad looked broken.
Emily looked furious.
I felt none of that.
I felt clear.
“And after I sign?”
Thomas hesitated.
“What?”
“Tell me.”
“He said Emily takes the blame for the fall.”
Emily's head snapped toward him.
Thomas continued.
“Robert Sr. confirms Claire withdrew voluntarily.”
Dad went pale.
“Diane manages Evan.”
Mother's face remained still.
“And Robert Jr.?”
Thomas looked at me.
“Takes command after forty-eight hours.”
Emily laughed.
A terrible sound.
“So I never even got two days.”
Mother snapped:
“Emily.”
She turned.
“No.”
For once.
“No, you don't get to tell me to calm down.”
Mother's eyes narrowed.
Emily pointed toward me.
“You used me to push her.”
Then toward Dad.
“You used him to validate the signature.”
Then herself.
“And you were going to dump everything on me.”
Mother sighed.
“You were useful.”
There.
The sentence broke whatever remained.
Emily stared at her own mother.
“You really are a monster.”
Mother smiled.
“Don't become moral because you lost.”
Cruel.
Perfect.
Emily said nothing.
I looked at Thomas.
“Where is Robert Jr.?”
“Not at the country club.”
Dad's head lifted.
“What?”
Thomas looked at him.
“He left twenty minutes ago.”
My attention sharpened.
“For where?”
Thomas looked at Evan's prepared bedroom upstairs.
May you like
Then back at me.
“Here.”
