Chapter 7
The siren grew louder.
Blue light briefly flashed across Claudia’s dining-room windows.
No one at the table moved.
The entire house seemed to be listening.
Claudia’s fork slipped from her fingers and tapped against the china.
Jared glanced toward the foyer.
His face had lost some of its color.
“This is ridiculous,” he muttered.
Sarah’s younger brother finally spoke.
“Jared, maybe you should just cooperate.”
Jared spun toward him.
“Stay out of this.”
The younger man immediately looked down again.
There it was.
The reflex.
The same fear.
The same silence.
I wondered how many times that pattern had repeated itself in this family before I entered it.
A firm knock sounded at the front door.
Claudia turned toward the hallway.
“No one answer that.”
Another knock came.
Then a voice.
“State Police.”
Jared swore under his breath.
I started toward the foyer with Lily in my arms.
Claudia stepped sideways.
“Ryan, don’t.”
I stopped.
She seemed to realize she had placed herself between us and the door.
For once, she moved out of my way.
I opened it.
Alex Ramirez stood on the porch wearing a dark jacket over plain clothes. Behind him were two uniformed officers.
Cold Ohio air entered the foyer.
Alex looked at me first.
Then Sarah.
Then Lily.
His expression hardened.
“Is everybody safe right now?”
“Yes.”
“Has anyone else been hurt?”
“No.”
He nodded.
“Okay.”
Jared appeared behind us.
“This is private property.”
Alex looked past me.
“Jared.”
The confidence in Jared’s face faltered.
“You know me?”
“I know who you are.”
Claudia moved into the foyer.
“Detective, this is an unfortunate misunderstanding.”
Alex did not look at her.
He kept his attention on Jared.
“We’ve received a report concerning an incident involving a minor. We need to speak with everyone who witnessed it.”
Jared folded his arms.
“I’m not answering anything without my attorney.”
“That’s your right.”
That response seemed to frustrate him.
Jared was accustomed to resistance.
He was less accustomed to procedure.
Alex finally looked at Claudia.
“Ma’am, please ask everyone to remain available while we sort out what happened.”
Claudia lifted her chin.
“I don’t appreciate police officers invading my home over a family discipline matter.”
Alex’s expression did not change.
May you like
“A ten-year-old child’s safety isn’t something we dismiss because the people involved are related.”
For once, Claudia had no immediate response.
