Chapter 5 - The Second PhoneWe didn't go home until after four in the morning.
The detectives had questioned Claire for nearly two hours.
They didn't arrest her.
Not yet.
But they took photographs of the medication bottle, copies of the old medical reports, and the referral that Claire had signed.
One detective, a woman named Alvarez, gave me a card before leaving.
“Mr. Bennett, don't delete anything.”
I looked at her.
“Anything?”
“Texts. Emails. Bank records. Medical paperwork. Do not confront your wife alone about evidence.”
I understood what she meant.
There was more.
There had to be.
Maya stayed at the hospital under observation.
I drove home alone.
Claire was waiting in the kitchen.
The same kitchen.
The same table.
The same burgundy stain on the plate Maya had never touched.
I stood in the doorway.
Claire looked smaller than she had that morning.
“Where is my daughter?”
“At the hospital.”
“I know.”
“She asked for you.”
Claire's eyes lifted.
“She did?”
“Yes.”
Relief crossed her face.
Then I added,
“Then she asked whether you'd lied to me about anything else.”
The relief disappeared.
I placed my keys on the counter.
“Sit down.”
She did.
I remained standing.
“Who is Adrian Cole?”
Claire stared at me.
“You know who he is.”
“Tell me.”
“He was part of my past.”
“He's Maya's father.”
Claire closed her eyes.
“Yes.”
The word barely existed in the room.
I looked at her.
“How long have you known?”
“I've always known.”
“The paternity test?”
She nodded.
“How long?”
“About a year.”
I laughed softly.
A year.
Twelve months of birthday dinners.
School concerts.
Christmas mornings.
Family photographs.
One year in which my entire life had been based on a fact that wasn't true.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I was scared.”
“Of what?”
“That you'd stop loving her.”
I shook my head.
“You don't get to decide what I love.”
“I thought you would.”
“You didn't trust me.”
“I trusted you too much.”
“That makes no sense.”
Claire started crying.
“You loved her so much.”
“I still do.”
“I knew you did.”
“Then why?”
She looked at her hands.
“Because Adrian came back.”
My chest tightened.
“When?”
“Last year.”
“And?”
“He found me.”
“Why?”
“He wanted to meet her.”
I stared at her.
“Did he?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I wouldn't let him.”
She looked up.
“I thought if he met her, everything would fall apart.”
“You were wrong.”
“I was terrified.”
“You lied to him.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to me.”
“Yes.”
“You lied to Maya.”
Claire's face crumpled.
“I was trying to protect my family.”
“No.”
I pointed toward the hospital papers.
“You were protecting a lie.”
She didn't answer.
Then something on the counter caught my eye.
A second phone.
Black.
Small.
Hidden beneath a grocery receipt.
I stared at it.
Claire followed my gaze.
Her face went blank.
“What is that?”
“Marcus…”
“Whose phone is it?”
She stood.
“Don't.”
I walked toward it.
“Why?”
“Because it isn't what you think.”
“Then show me.”
She grabbed the phone.
I caught her wrist.
She froze.
I let go immediately.
“I'm not going to hurt you.”
Her breathing was ragged.
“Give it to me.”
“No.”
“Marcus.”
“Unlock it.”
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because you don't understand.”
“I understand plenty.”
She backed away.
“I swear I was trying to stop this.”
“Stop what?”
She didn't answer.
The phone vibrated in her hand.
Both of us looked down.
A message appeared on the screen.
Did Marcus find out about the file?
Another followed immediately.
If he has the DNA report, it's over.
I looked at Claire.
“Who is texting you?”
She locked the screen.
“It's nobody.”
“Give me the phone.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“No!”
Her scream echoed off the cabinets.
She stared at me, shaking.
Then she whispered,
“You weren't supposed to find out this way.”
I stood completely still.
“What file?”
She covered her face.
“I made a mistake.”
“What file?”
She finally looked at me.
“The first DNA report wasn't the only one.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means…”
Her voice broke.
“It means Adrian isn't the only person connected to Maya.”
My stomach dropped.
“What are you talking about?”
Claire said nothing.
I took one step closer.
“Who else?”
She looked toward the window.
Outside, dawn was beginning to lighten the sky.
Then the phone vibrated again.
This time the message preview showed a name.
DR. LENA SHAW
May you like
And beneath it:
You need to tell Marcus what happened the night Maya was born before someone else does.
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