CHAPTER 5
Evelyn Hale arrived at my gate the next morning.
Alone.
My security team called me before letting her onto the property.
“She says she needs to see you.”
“Not Lily.”
“Understood.”
I met Evelyn outside.
She looked smaller than I remembered.
Her gray coat was buttoned to her throat despite the warm California morning.
“Daniel.”
“Why are you here?”
Her eyes filled with tears.
“I want to explain.”
“Michael told me not to trust you.”
The words hit her.
She looked down.
“You spoke to him?”
“Yes.”
“Is he all right?”
I stared at her.
“You haven’t seen your son in fifteen years and that’s your question?”
Pain crossed her face.
“I deserve that.”
“What happened to him?”
Evelyn swallowed.
“Victoria was troubled.”
“Troubled?”
“She was seventeen.”
“And Michael was ten.”
“I know.”
“She burned him.”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
My anger rose so quickly I had to step away.
“You knew.”
“I knew something was wrong.”
“You lied to police.”
“She was my daughter.”
“He was your son.”
“I was afraid of losing both of them.”
“So you sacrificed one.”
Her face crumpled.
“I thought I could control Victoria.”
“Did you?”
She did not answer.
“Did you know about Lily?”
“No.”
I laughed bitterly.
“Why should I believe you?”
“You shouldn’t.”
That answer surprised me.
Evelyn looked toward the house.
“I came because Victoria called me last night.”
My body tightened.
“What did she say?”
“She said Lily ruined her life.”
Michael had predicted it.
The person who exposes her becomes the betrayer.
“What else?”
“She asked me to tell the court that you are unstable.”
I stared at Evelyn.
“Are you going to?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I did it once before.”
Her voice cracked.
“And Michael paid for it.”
She reached into her purse.
Security moved closer.
Evelyn slowly removed an envelope.
“This belongs to you.”
May you like
I took it.
Inside were photocopies of handwritten notes.
