Chapter 6 - What Emily Heard)
Claire did not sleep.
At 4:20 in the morning, she sat on the bathroom floor and sent the recording to Vanessa.
Her sister called immediately.
"What does 'make sure the kids see enough' mean?"
"I don't know."
"You're leaving."
"Yes."
"Now."
Claire looked toward the bedroom.
Derek was asleep.
"I need to get the children."
"Do it quietly."
Claire woke Emily first.
The little girl sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"Are we going somewhere?"
"We're having breakfast with Aunt Vanessa."
"Now?"
"Special breakfast."
Emily looked toward the hallway.
"Is Daddy coming?"
"No."
That answer made Emily fully awake.
Claire packed Noah's inhaler, clothes, and school bag.
She had both children downstairs when Derek appeared.
He stood at the bottom of the stairs.
"Where are you going?"
Claire's heart slammed against her chest.
"Vanessa's."
"At five in the morning?"
"Emily couldn't sleep."
Emily looked confused.
Derek noticed.
He came closer.
"Kids, go upstairs."
Claire stepped between him and them.
"No."
Derek's eyes narrowed.
"I wasn't talking to you."
"They're coming with me."
"Why?"
"Because I'm their mother."
"And I'm their father."
Nobody spoke.
Noah clung to Claire's leg.
Derek looked down.
His face softened.
"Buddy, it's okay."
Noah turned away.
Something flashed in Derek's expression.
Anger.
Then it disappeared.
"Claire, you're frightening them."
"I'm taking them to my sister's."
"Without telling me."
"I'm telling you now."
"You can't just remove my children from their home."
"Watch me."
The words escaped before Claire could stop them.
Derek stared at her.
Then he stepped aside.
Claire felt almost disappointed.
She had expected a fight.
Derek opened the front door.
"Go."
Claire hesitated.
"You're not stopping us?"
"No."
He smiled.
"Why would I?"
Claire drove away with both children.
Ten minutes later Vanessa called.
"Where are you?"
"Almost there."
"Good."
"Derek let us leave."
Silence.
"Vanessa?"
"That's not good."
"I thought you'd be happy."
"I'd be happier if his behavior made sense."
It made sense two hours later.
A process server arrived at Vanessa's house.
Claire was handed an emergency petition.
Derek claimed Claire had become emotionally unstable during pregnancy.
He alleged she had made irrational accusations.
He claimed she removed the children from their home without cause.
He requested temporary custody review.
Attached to the petition were statements.
One from Derek.
One from Rachel.
One from a man Claire barely knew who worked at Derek's company.
And a photograph.
Claire stared at it.
She was standing in the kitchen, pointing angrily at Derek.
The image had no context.
No sound.
No Rachel.
No view of what happened before.
Another photograph showed Claire crying in the driveway.
Another showed a broken drinking glass near her feet.
Claire remembered that day.
Derek had dropped the glass.
Then told Rachel to take a picture after Claire walked outside.
"They've been building this," Claire whispered.
Vanessa was already reading.
"For weeks."
Emily was sitting on the living room rug.
Her face changed when she saw Rachel's name.
"Aunt Vanessa?"
Vanessa looked up.
"Yeah, sweetheart?"
"Is that the blonde lady?"
Vanessa hesitated.
"Yes."
Emily crawled closer.
"I heard her talking to Daddy yesterday."
Claire's breath caught.
"When?"
"Before she came inside."
"Where were you?"
"In the pantry."
"Why?"
"I was getting crackers."
Claire crouched.
"What did they say?"
Emily frowned.
"She said she didn't want to do it if Noah was there."
Vanessa became completely still.
"What did Daddy say?"
"He said Noah cries too much and that was good."
Claire felt cold.
Emily continued.
"Then the blonde lady said, 'What if Claire gets really hurt?'"
Claire covered her mouth.
Vanessa's voice became very gentle.
"What did Daddy say?"
Emily looked at her mother.
"He said, 'Not really hurt. Just enough.'"
Claire stood abruptly.
The room tilted.
Vanessa caught her arm.
"Sit down."
Claire shook her head.
"No."
"Claire."
"They planned something."
"Yes."
"Yesterday."
"Probably."
"They expected me to be there today."
Vanessa looked at the petition.
"They also expected you to leave."
Claire stared.
"What?"
Vanessa held up the papers.
"This was prepared before dawn."
"So?"
"So Derek did not decide to file after you left."
Understanding came slowly.
"He knew I'd leave."
"Or he wanted you to."
Claire looked toward Emily.
Derek had let them go because the departure itself supported his story.
Vanessa opened her laptop.
"We need a timeline."
Claire sat down.
"And then?"
"And then we find out what they planned for the kitchen."
But someone else already knew.
At 8:17 that morning, Derek sent Claire a message.
We need to talk.
At 8:19, another.
Come home tonight.
At 8:23, a third.
Rachel will apologize.
Vanessa read the messages.
"No."
Claire looked at her.
"You want to know what they're planning."
May you like
"Yes."
"Then we make them think I'm coming back."
