Chapter 3
"I have one more recording."
My voice remained calm.
Steady.
I tapped another file.
"This one includes audio."
Daniel's face drained of color.
The recording began.
The screen showed the garage door from across the driveway.
Then Daniel's voice filled the cold morning air.
"If you two can't learn to behave..."
"You can stay out here."
Lily's tiny voice answered through tears.
"Daddy, we're cold."
The garage door slammed shut.
Then came silence.
Followed by crying.
Long...
Quiet...
Heartbreaking crying.
Several neighbors who had gathered nearby lowered their heads.
One officer removed his gloves and rubbed his forehead.
Paige whispered,
"Turn it off."
I didn't.
The recording continued.
Mason knocked weakly on the garage door.
"Daddy..."
"I'm scared."
No answer.
Only the sound of freezing wind.
When the recording finally ended...
Nobody spoke.
Daniel stared at the ground.
His breathing had become uneven.
The senior officer stepped toward him.
"Mr. Harper..."
"At this time, we need you to answer a few questions."
Daniel looked at me desperately.
"Claire..."
"It wasn't supposed to be that long."
I said nothing.
Lily squeezed my hand tighter.
For the first time that morning...
She wasn't trembling from the cold.
She was trembling from hearing her father's own voice.
Paige slowly lowered her phone.
She had spent the morning trying to record evidence against me.
May you like
Instead...
She had recorded the moment everything fell apart.
