Chapter 3
Linda insisted the room was for Emily’s safety.
I let her explain.
That was useful.
“She becomes hysterical.”
I sat across from her in the living room.
“What does hysterical look like?”
“She cries. She tries to leave. She makes accusations.”
I nodded.
“So you lock her in a room.”
“For a short time.”
“And take her phone.”
“So she doesn’t call people while irrational.”
I almost smiled.
“People meaning me.”
Linda’s mouth tightened.
Ryan interrupted.
“Your daughter weaponizes you.”
There it was.
A useful phrase for a frightened husband who did not want his wife calling her father.
“How?”
“Every argument ends with your name.”
I looked at Emily.
She sat beside one of my guards with both hands over her stomach.
“Did you threaten him with me?”
Her eyes filled.
“No.”
Ryan laughed.
“She’d say, ‘My father would never let you—’”
I turned.
“That isn’t a threat.”
Silence.
“That is a woman remembering somebody loves her.”
Ryan looked away.
Linda folded her arms.
“You always made Emily believe she could run home whenever marriage became difficult.”
“No.”
I shook my head.
“I made Emily believe she had a home.”
That distinction offended her.
Good.
Then I asked about the bruise near Emily’s belly.
Ryan immediately said:
“She fell against the dresser.”
Emily did not speak.
I looked at her.
“Did you?”
Her breathing became shallow.
“No.”
Ryan closed his eyes.
I waited.
Emily whispered:
“He shoved me because I wouldn’t make the call.”
“What call?”
She looked toward Ryan.
His face changed.
That was the first time I saw fear unrelated to being caught hurting her.
May you like
There was something else.
Something they had been trying to force Emily to ask me for.
