“That doesn’t explain why you freaked out.”
“Mark and I were best friends back then. Like brothers. We did everything together. When he first started dating Claire, their relationship seemed perfect.”
“But?” I asked.
Daniel’s expression turned grim.
“Mark started controlling everything. Where she went, who she talked to, how much she spent.”
“Mark and I were best friends back then.”
Evan leaned forward. “And nobody said anything?”
Daniel looked at him. “No.”
Evan leaned back and let out a harsh breath.
“I became the only man Mark trusted to be around her. We got close,” Daniel continued. “When Claire got pregnant, and Mark started getting really possessive and jealous, she told him she was leaving. But he wouldn’t let her.”
“And nobody said anything?”
“What does that mean?” Evan leaned forward again. “Did he hurt her?”
Daniel shook his head.
“Nothing like that, but he emptied most of their shared account, changed passwords, froze cards. He made sure leaving him would cost her.”
Maya went still.
“That’s when Claire called me,” Daniel said.
“Did he hurt her?”
“Why you?” Evan asked.
“She trusted me.” Daniel glanced at his watch. “I gave her cash, helped her pack, and drove her to a friend three hours away. She’d already decided to leave. She asked for help, and I helped.”
Evan looked down at the photograph. “That’s why she said she couldn’t have done it without you.”
Daniel nodded. “Now you REALLY need to go. Now.”
Daniel glanced at his watch.
“Dad, are you serious?” Maya gaped at him. “After all this, we’re back to telling Evan to leave?”
“You don’t understand. Mark’s coming here tonight. He’s probably on his way here right now,” Daniel replied.
Evan’s eyes went round. He turned to Maya.
Then Maya asked the question I was already thinking.
“If Mark did all this, why is he still your friend?”
“He’s probably on his way here right now,”
Shame crossed Daniel’s face.
“We’re not close. I kept him at a distance.”
“He is literally coming here tonight,” Maya said.
Daniel looked down. “I know.”
Evan’s voice was quiet. “Did you ever tell him you helped my mom?”
“No. I promised Claire I wouldn’t tell him where she’d gone. That’s why he can’t see you.” He paused. “You look so much like her… and him.”
“Did you ever tell him you helped my mom?”
I stared at Daniel.
I loved my husband. But in all our time together, I’d never known him to be such a… coward.
“Evan, you need to go,” Daniel repeated.
“No,” I said.
Daniel’s face hardened. “We can’t just put them in a room together and hope everyone comes out okay. Didn’t you hear what I said about Mark?”
