Chapter 8 - THE NIGHT ROAD
Grant called me himself.
His voice no longer sounded powerful.
It sounded terrified.
“She took Lily.”
I was already putting on my coat.
“Where would she go?”
“I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“You knew Claire better than anyone.”
“Where did she go when she was afraid?”
Grant was silent.
Then he said, “The cabin.”
Detective Ellis organized units along the northern highway.
Grant insisted on coming.
So did I.
No one tried to stop me.
Rain struck the windshield as we drove toward the mountains.
The road curved through dark forests and steep rock walls.
Grant sat beside Detective Ellis in the front.
I sat behind him.
For the first hour, he said nothing.
Then he looked at me through the mirror.
“I should have believed you.”
“Yes.”
The answer surprised him.
I did not soften it.
“You saw Lily flinch.”
“You saw her hair.”
“You chose the explanation that protected your life.”
His jaw tightened.
“I thought Renata loved her.”
“You thought believing that made you a good father.”
He looked away.
The truth hurt him.
It was supposed to.
Halfway to the cabin, Detective Ellis received a report.
Renata’s car had been seen near the mountain pass where Claire died.
Grant went pale.
“She is taking Lily to the crash site.”
“Why?” I asked.
“To finish what she started.”
We reached the old highway just after two in the morning.
Fog covered the road.
A red sports car stood near the broken guardrail.
Its driver’s door was open.
Renata was nowhere in sight.
Small footprints led through the mud toward the trees.
We followed them.
Grant called Lily’s name.
No answer came.
Then we heard a child crying near the cliff.
Lily stood beside the edge.
Renata held one arm around her chest.
In her other hand was a gun.
“Stay back,” Renata shouted.
Grant stopped.
“Let her go.”
“You were supposed to marry me.”
Her hair was soaked against her face.
Her diamonds glittered in the rain.
“You were supposed to give me everything.”
“You already took everything,” Grant said.
“You took Claire.”
Renata laughed.
“Claire took you from me first.”
Lily looked at me.
Her lips trembled.
I stepped forward.
Renata pressed the gun against the child’s side.
“Another step and she goes over.”
May you like
Behind Renata, the cliff disappeared into darkness.
Below it lay the same ravine that had swallowed Claire’s car.
