Chapter 12 - Margaret's NotebookMark vanished for six hours.
During those six hours, Daniel learned exactly how long fear could stretch.
Investigators searched highways.
Airports.
Hotels.
Margaret's financial accounts.
Claire remained with Sophie.
Daniel returned home just after dark.
The word home came naturally now.
He entered Claire's house and found Sophie building a blanket fort in the living room.
The sight nearly broke him.
She was eight years old.
She should have been worried about whether the fort ceiling would collapse.
Not whether her grandmother would poison her.
“Dad!”
Sophie ran to him.
Daniel hugged her longer than usual.
“Too tight,” she laughed softly.
He loosened his arms.
“Sorry.”
Claire watched from the kitchen.
Their eyes met.
Something passed between them.
Not forgiveness.
Not yet.
But maybe the beginning of safety.
After Sophie went to bed, Daniel told Claire about Robert's letter.
Then about Mark's claim.
Claire sat very still.
“A notebook?”
“That's what he said.”
“Do you believe him?”
“I believe something scared him.”
“Mark helped Margaret for years.”
“I know.”
“He doesn't get to become innocent because he finally got frightened.”
“I know.”
Daniel wasn't defending him.
But Mark represented something valuable now.
A crack in Margaret's wall.
At 10:17 p.m., Detective Ross called.
Mark had turned himself in.
Daniel stood.
“Where?”
Ross wouldn't tell him immediately.
“He's requesting an attorney.”
“Did he have the notebook?”
“No.”
Daniel's hope collapsed.
“Where is it?”
“He says Margaret took it.”
“Of course.”
“But he photographed several pages.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Send them.”
“I can't send you evidence.”
“Then tell me what they say.”
Ross hesitated.
“I can tell you something relevant to Sophie's safety.”
Daniel waited.
“One entry mentions S.”
Claire moved closer.
“When?”
“Approximately six months ago.”
Daniel's heart pounded.
“What does it say?”
Ross read carefully.
“S becoming emotional after visits. Half tablet in juice worked.”
Claire covered her mouth.
Daniel closed his eyes.
Sophie had remembered.
The bitter juice.
The sleepiness.
Margaret had written it down.
Another entry:
C came unexpectedly. Used two in coffee. D believed alcohol explanation.
Claire turned away.
Daniel couldn't breathe.
Christmas.
Margaret had drugged her.
And Daniel had accused Claire of drinking.
Ross continued.
“There are earlier initials too.”
“R?”
A pause.
“Yes.”
Daniel's knees weakened.
Robert.
“How far back?”
“Years.”
“Tell me.”
“Daniel—”
“Tell me.”
Ross exhaled.
“R agitated before lawyer meeting. One dose at breakfast. Appointment canceled.”
Daniel gripped the counter.
His father had been trying to meet an attorney.
Margaret drugged him into confusion.
Maybe repeatedly.
“What about the day he died?”
Ross became silent.
Daniel knew.
“There is an entry.”
Claire grabbed his arm.
“What does it say?”
Ross's voice lowered.
“R chest discomfort. Would not calm down. Second dose.”
Daniel couldn't hear anything for a moment.
“Second dose of what?”
“Unclear.”
“Did she kill him?”
“I cannot tell you that.”
“Did she kill my father?”
“We don't know.”
Daniel pressed his fist against the wall.
Claire whispered, “Daniel.”
He forced himself to breathe.
Robert had died of a heart attack at home.
Margaret said he refused an ambulance until it was too late.
Had he been sedated?
Confused?
Unable to seek help?
The possibility was monstrous.
And still only a possibility.
“What did Mark say about the notebook?”
“He claims Margaret has it with her.”
“Where?”
“He doesn't know.”
“What does he know?”
Ross paused.
“He says Margaret contacted him yesterday after the hospital incident.”
Daniel waited.
“She told him the plan was collapsing.”
“What plan?”
“He says there were several.”
Daniel felt sick.
“Claire?”
“Yes.”
“The trust?”
“Yes.”
“Sophie?”
Ross hesitated.
“He denies knowing Margaret intended physical harm.”
“Convenient.”
“I agree.”
“What was he paid for?”
“Creating false digital evidence, accessing surveillance feeds, monitoring you and Claire, and helping Margaret alter documents.”
Claire shook her head.
“Why?”
Ross answered.
“Debt.”
Mark had lost nearly eight hundred thousand dollars through private investments and gambling.
Margaret covered it.
Then owned him.
Daniel felt no sympathy.
“What happens now?”
“We build the case.”
“And Margaret?”
“We find her.”
As if summoned by the words, Daniel's phone buzzed.
A text.
Unknown number.
Photograph attached.
Daniel opened it.
Margaret.
Sitting somewhere dark.
Holding a black notebook.
Beneath the photograph:
YOU WANT THE TRUTH?
COME ALONE.
Claire saw it.
“No.”
Daniel read the next message.
LAKEVIEW MOTOR INN. ROOM 214.
MIDNIGHT.
NO POLICE.
Then:
ASK CLAIRE WHAT SHE NEVER TOLD YOU ABOUT ROBERT.
Daniel looked at Claire.
She had gone completely pale.
“What does that mean?”
Claire didn't answer.
“Claire.”
Her eyes filled.
Daniel felt a new kind of fear.
“What did you never tell me about my father?”
Claire sat slowly.
“Three days before Robert died…”
She stopped.
Daniel waited.
“He came to see me.”
“You?”
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
May you like
Claire looked at him.
“He told me he was afraid of Margaret.”
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