Chapter 6 - THE ROAD IN THE RAIN
Grant ordered the gates sealed, but Victor's SUV had already cleared the property.
Owen sent two vehicles after him.
The rain on the old recording sounded so real that Emma could smell wet pavement. Lily pressed both hands over her ears, but she did not ask them to stop it. She needed her father to hear what silence had been carrying.
Emma stayed with Lily while paramedics examined the burn near her scalp. The injury was painful but shallow. The deeper wounds were harder to see.
Grant crouched in front of his daughter.
"Lily, did Victor hurt your mother?"
She stared at the floor.
Emma placed the rabbit recorder in her hands.
"You can show us," Emma said. "You don't have to say it all at once."
Lily selected an older file.
Rain filled the recording. A car door slammed. Her mother's voice, frightened and angry, said, "I know what you moved out of Lily's trust. Grant will see everything tonight."
Victor answered, "You should have stayed out of the accounts."
Then Renata's voice came from farther away.
"Take her phone."
Grant stumbled backward as if struck.
The recording ended with tires screaming and Lily crying from inside another vehicle.
"Renata was there," Emma said.
Mason stared at his brother. "Lily witnessed it. That's why she stopped speaking."
Renata, now restrained by security, lifted her chin.
"A recording proves nothing. It can be edited."
Grant's eyes were empty. "You stood beside me at my wife's funeral."
"I saved you from falling apart."
"You were waiting for her place."
Deputy Danner stepped toward the door. "This is beyond my jurisdiction. I'll notify the county."
Emma saw his hand slip into his jacket.
May you like
He wasn't reaching for a phone.
He was reaching for the rabbit recorder.
