Chapter 8 - The Search
Eleanor opened the door with the composed expression she'd worn at charity dinners for thirty years.
“Detective, what is this about?”
Hale held out the warrant.
“We're authorized to search the residence and associated property for evidence related to the collision.”
Eleanor read the first page.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
“This is absurd.”
“You're welcome to contact an attorney.”
“Of course I will.”
She stepped aside.
Officers entered.
They documented the garage.
Collected electronic devices.
Photographed storage areas.
Reviewed security equipment.
Eleanor watched from the sitting room.
“Is all of this really necessary?”
Hale looked at her.
“Yes.”
“You're treating me like a criminal.”
“We're investigating a crime.”
She turned away.
“I've spent my entire life helping this community.”
Hale didn't respond.
An officer approached him from the hallway.
“Detective.”
Hale followed.
Inside a locked storage cabinet, investigators had found several items they considered relevant to the vehicle examination.
Everything was documented and preserved.
Hale glanced toward the sitting room.
Eleanor sat perfectly straight on the sofa.
But her hands were no longer still.
At the hospital, Daniel received a call from Rebecca.
“We've executed a search warrant.”
He closed his eyes.
“At my mother's house?”
“Yes.”
“Did you find anything?”
“I can't discuss all the details yet.”
Daniel leaned against the wall.
“Is she going to be arrested?”
“That's a decision we'll make based on the evidence.”
He swallowed.
“Detective, if she did this…”
Rebecca waited.
Daniel stared through the window at Sophie.
His daughter was watching cartoons with Rachel.
“She tried to kill my family.”
His voice was barely audible.
Rebecca answered quietly.
“We're treating that possibility very seriously.”
Claire woke again shortly before midnight.
This time she remained conscious.
Daniel was sitting beside her when her eyes opened.
“Claire?”
She looked at him.
For a moment, there was only confusion.
Then recognition.
“Daniel.”
He leaned closer.
“Hey, beautiful.”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“Sophie?”
“She's alive.”
Claire's face crumpled.
“Oh, God.”
“She's awake.”
“Is she hurt?”
“Yes.”
“How badly?”
Daniel held her hand.
“She has some injuries, but she's getting stronger.”
Claire began crying.
“I couldn't stop.”
“I know.”
“I tried.”
“You don't have to explain.”
“The brakes…”
Her breathing quickened.
Daniel sat forward.
“Claire.”
“They weren't working.”
“I know.”
She looked at him.
“You know?”
“The police found something.”
Claire went still.
“What?”
“Someone may have interfered with the car.”
Her eyes widened.
“No.”
Daniel swallowed.
“Claire, there's something I need to ask.”
She stared at him.
“Did Mom say anything strange before you left?”
Claire looked toward the ceiling.
Memories returned in broken pieces.
Sophie's laughter.
The birthday gifts.
Eleanor's hand on her shoulder.
The insistence that they leave early.
Then the road.
The curve.
The terrible feeling beneath her foot.
She began trembling.
“Eleanor.”
Daniel's grip tightened.
“What about her?”
“She kept telling us to hurry.”
“I know.”
“And she asked whether Sophie would be riding in the back.”
Daniel felt cold.
“Why?”
Claire shook her head.
“I thought she was just being difficult.”
“Did she say anything else?”
Claire closed her eyes.
“She asked whether you would be meeting us at the restaurant.”
Daniel stared at her.
“She knew I wouldn't be in the car.”
Claire opened her eyes.
They looked at each other.
Neither wanted to say the obvious.
Finally, Claire whispered, “Daniel, what did she do?”
He couldn't answer.
Instead, he leaned forward and held his wife as carefully as he could.
For ten years, he had defended his mother.
Explained away her insults.
Dismissed her interference.
Asked Claire to be patient.
Now Claire lay in a hospital bed because someone had turned an ordinary birthday drive into a nightmare.
And the person under investigation was his own mother.
“I'm sorry,” he whispered.
Claire shook her head.
“Don't.”
“I should have listened to you.”
She pulled back enough to see his face.
“Daniel.”
He looked at her.
“If your mother did this, that is her choice.”
Tears streamed down his cheeks.
“Not yours.”
He held her hand.
“I won't let her near you again.”
Claire stared at him.
“Promise?”
He nodded.
“On my life.”
At Eleanor's house, the search continued until early morning.
When investigators left, the older woman stood alone in her kitchen.
Her expensive home felt unfamiliar.
Drawers stood open.
Cabinet contents had been examined.
Her computer was gone.
So was her phone.
She had called her attorney from the landline.
He promised to meet her in the morning.
Eleanor poured herself a glass of water.
Her hand shook so badly that some spilled onto the counter.
She stared at it.
Then she began to laugh.
A small, bitter sound.
“All this for her.”
She looked toward Daniel's childhood photograph.
“After everything I did for you.”
The laughter stopped.
Her face twisted.
“You were mine first.”
The landline rang.
She answered immediately.
“Hello?”
No one spoke.
“Hello?”
A quiet voice finally answered.
It was Vanessa.
“I went to the police.”
Eleanor gripped the receiver.
“What?”
“I told them everything you said.”
Eleanor's lips parted.
“Vanessa, listen to me.”
“No.”
“You don't understand.”
“I understand enough.”
Eleanor's voice sharpened.
“You owe me.”
“I'd rather owe money than owe you my soul.”
The line went dead.
Eleanor stared at the receiver.
May you like
Then she slammed it down.
For the first time, she realized the woman she'd intended to place beside Daniel might become the witness who destroyed her.
