Chapter 2 - SIGN IT
Daniel slammed the confession harder against the table.
“SIGN IT! YOU WERE DRIVING!”
Claire jerked her hand away.
“YOU HIT THAT MAN!”
Lorraine grabbed Claire’s arm.
“Protect your husband!”
Claire pulled back.
Daniel stepped inches from her face.
“I drove. YOU take the blame.”
Claire started crying.
Her thumb slid over the pen.
Pressed.
Tiny vibration.
Recording.
She lowered her eyes.
Then asked:
“And if he dies?”
Daniel snapped:
“Then YOU go down for it!”
Lorraine smirked.
“Now sign.”
Claire stared at Daniel.
“What happens to you?”
“Nothing if you stop making this difficult.”
“Nothing?”
“I wasn’t driving.”
Claire almost laughed.
He could lie while admitting the lie in the same room.
Then Lorraine corrected him.
“You weren’t supposed to be driving.”
Important distinction.
Daniel looked at her.
Too late.
Claire asked:
“Why are you so scared?”
He answered:
“Because my license is already screwed.”
Claire frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Daniel had hidden a prior reckless-driving suspension.
Then Lorraine said:
“And because this man has been harassing Daniel.”
Claire looked between them.
“You know him?”
Silence.
Daniel shouted:
“SIGN!”
Claire did.
Her signature shook.
She pressed the record button again.
Stop.
Then Lorraine took the paper.
Daniel took the pen.
Claire grabbed it back.
“No.”
He stared.
Claire held it against her chest.
“My pen.”
Daniel smiled strangely.
“Fine.”
Too easy.
That should have warned her.
Then Lorraine said:
“We go to police in the morning.”
Claire stared.
“Why not now?”
“Because you’re upset.”
No.
Because they needed time.
Then Daniel added:
“You’ll say you hit him near the old quarry entrance.”
Claire looked up.
“How do you know where I hit him?”
Daniel froze.
Lorraine stepped in.
“That’s enough.”
Claire looked down.
Inside, she thought:
I have everything.
May you like
She slept with the pen under her pillow.
At least she thought she did.
