“I didn’t need to.”
His eyes narrowed.
“What is happening?”
I looked at him.
“Where were you?”
“I told you.”
“Say it again.”
His jaw tightened.
“Seattle.”
Beatrice stared at the floor.
I nodded.
“Interesting.”
“Claire, stop playing games.”
I walked toward the mantel.
Chloe’s school photograph stood there in a silver frame.
Arthur’s eyes moved toward it.
For the first time since entering the house, he seemed to notice the absence around him.
“Where’s Chloe?”
The room became very still.
I watched his face.
Every muscle.
Every blink.
Every breath.
This was the moment I had imagined since the hospital.
I had imagined shock.
Disbelief.
Collapse.
Maybe even grief.
Instead, what I saw was something I did not understand.
Not surprise.
Something closer to calculation.
“Where is she?” he asked again.
I picked up Mr.
Button from the chair.
Arthur stared at the rabbit.
Then at me.
