Chapter 3: The Woman Who Knew My Daughter's Name
I read the message six times.
Then I called the number.
It rang once.
Twice.
On the third ring, somebody answered.
A woman.
"Claire?""
"Who is this?""
"My name is Denise. I work at Lily's school.""
I gripped the phone.
"Mrs. Harper?""
"No. I'm the school nurse.""
I remembered her.
Denise was a small woman with silver-streaked hair who always wore bright-colored glasses. She had given Lily an ice pack once after a playground accident.
"How did you get my number?""
"Mrs. Harper gave it to me. She said you were worried about Lily.""
"Why did you tell me to stop listening to the recording?""
There was a long silence.
Then Denise said something that made my knees weaken.
"Because I think somebody at the school has been helping your brother-in-law.""
I sat on the bottom step.
"What?""
"Claire, I need you to listen carefully. Three weeks ago, Lily came into my office after lunch. She was crying.""
"What happened?""
"She said her arms felt strange. She was having trouble staying awake.""
My throat tightened.
"Why wasn't I called?""
"I tried to call you.""
I looked at my phone.
There had been no missed calls.
"Nobody called me.""
"I know. That's what frightened me.""
Denise lowered her voice.
"Your husband called the school before I could reach you. He said Lily had been having sleep problems and asked us to contact him first if she seemed tired.""
I felt something shift inside my chest.
"Rick told the school that?""
"Yes.""
"Why?""
"I don't know. But he was very specific.""
I pressed my free hand against my forehead.
"Did you tell him about Lily coming to your office?""
"I didn't speak to him. Somebody else did.""
"Who?""
Another pause.
"Mrs. Harper.""
I stared at the wall.
Lily's teacher.
The woman who had told me Lily was sleepy.
The woman who had smiled at me that morning.
"You're saying Mrs. Harper knew?""
"I'm saying I don't trust what happened afterward.""
A car door slammed outside.
I looked through the front window.
Rick's SUV had pulled into the driveway.
"Claire?"" Denise whispered.
"I have to go.""
"Don't confront him yet.""
"Why?""
"Because I don't think you understand how many people are involved.""
The call ended.
I stood up.
Rick unlocked the front door.
"Claire?""
I slipped my phone into my pocket.
He entered carrying his work bag and a paper coffee cup.
His eyes moved over my face.
"What's wrong?""
"Where's Lily?""
He put the coffee on the counter.
"I thought you knew. Lazlo said he was dropping her off.""
"He hasn't.""
Rick frowned.
"That's strange.""
"Very.""
He took off his jacket.
"Did you call him?""
"Yes.""
"And?""
"Voicemail.""
Rick pulled out his phone.
"Let me try.""
I watched his thumb move.
He called Lazlo.
I heard the phone ringing through the speaker.
Once.
Twice.
Then voicemail.
Rick frowned.
"That's unusual.""
He turned away from me and typed a message.
I noticed the screen.
Call me. Now.
He put the phone down.
"Maybe he had car trouble.""
"Then why didn't he call?""
"Claire, I don't know.""
I walked toward the kitchen.
"Who's Vonda?""
Rick froze.
It was small.
Just a fraction of a second.
But I saw it.
"Vonda?""
"Your business partner.""
"Why?""
"Is she at your office?""
He picked up his coffee.
"Probably. What's this about?""
"Nothing.""
He took a sip.
Then he smiled.
"You're acting strange.""
I looked directly at him.
"Am I?""
"Yes.""
I wanted to throw the laptop at his head.
Instead, I asked, "Did you see Lily today?""
"No.""
"Did you speak to Lazlo?""
"No.""
"Did you tell him to bring her somewhere?""
Rick's coffee cup stopped halfway to his mouth.
"Claire, what is this?""
I stepped closer.
"Answer me.""
He put the cup down.
"You're making me uncomfortable.""
I almost laughed.
My husband was standing in our kitchen, pretending to be uncomfortable.
The same man whose voice I had heard telling somebody to give our daughter more of whatever had made her unconscious.
"Rick, where is my daughter?""
His expression hardened.
"She's with your brother-in-law. Stop acting like something terrible has happened.""
"He's your brother.""
"Exactly. Which is why I trust him.""
I stared at him.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message appeared on the screen.
He glanced down.
I caught three words before he turned it over.
She knows something.
My heart slammed against my ribs.
"Who was that?""
"Work.""
"At this hour?""
"Yes, Claire. People work.""
He picked up his jacket again.
"I'm going to check on Lazlo.""
I moved toward the door.
"I'm coming.""
"No.""
The word came too quickly.
I stopped.
Rick seemed to realize his mistake.
He softened his voice.
"Stay here. If Lily gets home, somebody needs to be here.""
"Then I'll come with you.""
"Claire.""
He placed a hand on my shoulder.
It looked affectionate.
It felt like a warning.
"Don't make this harder than it needs to be.""
I stepped away.
"Take your hand off me.""
His face changed.
For a moment, I saw something beneath the familiar expression.
Something cold.
Then his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
"Lazlo," he said.
He answered immediately.
"Where are you?""
I couldn't hear the other side clearly.
Rick turned toward the window.
"What do you mean she's awake?""
My stomach dropped.
He listened.
Then he said, very quietly:
"Don't let her talk to anybody.""
He ended the call.
I was already reaching for my keys.
Rick looked at me.
"Where are you going?""
"To get my daughter.""
He stepped in front of the door.
"Claire, you need to calm down.""
I looked at the man blocking my way.
The man whose wedding ring I had kissed that morning.
The man who had promised to protect our child.
Then my phone vibrated.
Another message from Denise.
This time, it included a photograph.
It showed Lily sitting in the school nurse's office three days earlier.
Her face was pale. Her eyes were half closed.
And on the desk beside her was a small plastic container with a handwritten label.
I zoomed in.
The label read:
*LILY — AFTER LUNCH.*
Below it was a signature.
I recognized the handwriting immediately.
It belonged to my husband.
But the message beneath the photograph was what made my blood run cold.
Claire, that's not the worst part. I found a second file in the school's records.
It lists every child who was given something from that container.
May you like
And there were six names.
Lily's was only the first.
