Chapter 2 - The Door Opens
Daniel released Claire instantly.
The guest-room door opened.
Detective Mara Ruiz stepped into the hallway.
Beside her was Detective Aaron Bell.
Daniel stared at them.
Then at Claire.
Then back at Mara.
His face transformed with astonishing speed.
The rage vanished.
Confusion replaced it.
“Detective?”
Mara remained calm.
“Daniel Mercer.”
Daniel actually laughed.
“I think there’s been a misunderstanding.”
Claire nearly smiled.
Of course.
He was already performing.
Daniel gestured toward the damaged wall.
“My wife and I were arguing. I lost my temper and hit the wall. I’m embarrassed, but—”
“You grabbed her,” Bell said.
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“We heard you.”
“You heard an argument.”
“We heard threats.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
“She set this up?”
Mara stepped between them.
“Look at me, Mr. Mercer.”
“This woman is my wife.”
“And right now, I’m talking to you.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
Mara noticed.
So did Claire.
Daniel pointed at her.
“She has emotional problems.”
Claire closed her eyes briefly.
There it was.
Right on schedule.
“She’s been struggling for years,” Daniel continued. “Ask anyone who knows us.”
Mara nodded.
“We will.”
Daniel relaxed slightly.
“Good.”
“We’ll also ask about the basement stairs.”
His face changed.
Claire watched carefully.
Only for a second.
But it changed.
Daniel looked at her.
“You told them about that?”
Mara’s eyes sharpened.
“About what?”
Daniel realized his mistake.
“Her fall.”
“You weren’t there when she fell?”
“I found her afterward.”
Claire spoke quietly.
“No, you didn’t.”
Daniel turned.
“Claire.”
“You were behind me.”
“Stop.”
“You shoved me.”
“I said stop.”
Bell moved closer.
Daniel caught himself.
He lowered his voice.
“Claire, you’re confused.”
Mara asked, “Do you tell her that often?”
Daniel ignored her.
“Sweetheart.”
Claire hated that word.
“You’ve been under stress.”
“Don’t call me sweetheart.”
Daniel stared at her.
Claire stepped away from the wall.
For years, she had made herself smaller when he became angry.
Tonight, two detectives stood between them.
She didn’t need to shrink.
Daniel noticed.
“You think this changes something?”
“Yes.”
“You have nowhere to go.”
“I do now.”
“You have no money.”
“Mara already knows about the accounts.”
That landed.
Daniel’s expression hardened.
“What accounts?”
Claire almost smiled.
“Exactly.”
Mara glanced at Bell.
He stepped forward.
“Daniel Mercer, turn around.”
Daniel stared at him.
“You’re arresting me?”
“Yes.”
“For arguing with my wife?”
“For probable cause based on what we witnessed and heard tonight, along with evidence already provided during this investigation.”
Daniel looked at Claire.
His voice dropped.
“You’ll regret this.”
Mara immediately said, “Thank you.”
Daniel blinked.
“For what?”
“For another threat.”
Bell turned him toward the wall.
Claire flinched at the metallic click of the handcuffs.
Daniel heard it.
Even now, he knew exactly where to strike.
“Look at you,” he said. “You’re shaking.”
Claire looked at her hands.
He was right.
They were trembling violently.
Daniel smiled.
“You’re terrified without me.”
Claire slowly closed her fingers.
“No.”
She met his eyes.
“I’m terrified because of you.”
Mara opened the front door.
Two uniformed officers waited outside.
Daniel’s confidence finally cracked.
“Claire.”
She didn’t answer.
“Claire!”
Bell escorted him through the doorway.
Daniel twisted around.
“You think they’re going to save you?”
Claire stood in the hallway.
“No.”
She looked at Mara.
Then back at Daniel.
“I finally saved myself.”
The door closed.
Silence filled the house.
Claire stood completely still.
Mara approached her carefully.
“It’s over for tonight.”
Claire looked around.
At the cracked wall.
At the family photographs.
At the expensive furniture Daniel had always called his.
Then she asked the question she had been too afraid to ask for five years.
“What happens tomorrow?”
May you like
Mara’s expression became serious.
“Tomorrow is when Daniel starts fighting back.”
