Chapter 2 – The Truth Lily Could No Longer Carry
Lily swallowed hard.
She looked at her father.
Then at her grandmother.
Finally, she looked at Detective Ross.
"Daddy told me..." she whispered, "...not to tell anyone."
The room fell silent.
Detective Ross lowered himself to one knee.
"No one here is angry with you, sweetheart."
Lily nodded slowly.
"Daddy came early today."
Ethan immediately interrupted.
"She's confused."
"I wasn't talking to you," Detective Ross replied without looking away from Lily.
She hugged her rabbit tighter.
"He knocked on the back door."
"Mommy was doing laundry."
"He told Caleb they were going to get ice cream."
My heart stopped.
"I didn't know Caleb wasn't supposed to go."
Tears rolled down Lily's cheeks.
"I thought Daddy asked Mommy first."
Detective Ross exchanged a quick glance with Officer Miller.
"Did you see where they went?"
Lily nodded.
"They got into Daddy's truck."
The detective stood.
His calm expression had changed.
He turned toward Ethan.
"Mr. Hale..."
"...why did you fail to mention you were at the property before officers arrived?"
Ethan hesitated.
Only for a second.
"I stopped by."
"You said you arrived after receiving the emergency call."
"I misspoke."
"No," Detective Ross answered quietly.
"I believe you lied."
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For the first time that afternoon...
Ethan had nothing to say.
