Chapter 3: The Mother-in-Law
Lila’s mother, Margaret, arrived at the prison under escort two hours later. She was sixty-three, impeccably dressed, and furious at being summoned.
When she saw Chloe sitting beside Gavin in the visitation room, her face went pale.
“Chloe, what have you done?”
Chloe looked at her grandmother with the solemn calm of a child who had carried too much for too long.
“I told Daddy the truth.”
Margaret turned to Warden Mitchell.
“This is a child’s fantasy. My daughter is dead. This man murdered her.”
Mitchell slid the photograph across the table.
“Explain this.”
Margaret stared at the image. For a moment her composure cracked. Then she lifted her chin.
“I have nothing to say without an attorney.”
Mitchell nodded to the guards.
“Hold her for questioning. And get the district attorney here. We have a problem.”
Gavin watched the exchange in silence. The man who had spent five years being called a murderer now sat shackled while the woman who had helped hide his wife was being detained.
Chloe reached across the table and touched her father’s handcuffed wrist.
“I’m sorry I waited so long, Daddy.”
May you like
Gavin’s voice broke.
“You saved me, baby girl. You saved me.”
