Chapter 6

Sophie was taken straight into the emergency department.

The doctor said she'd already been weakened by the illness that had caused her earlier fever.

Now, after more than two hours on the roof, she was dangerously overheated and dehydrated, with a high fever. The tests also showed acute pneumonia.

Another half hour without treatment, the doctor warned, could have put her at risk of seizures or something worse.

I sat on the bench outside the treatment room, cold from head to foot.

The police arrived soon afterward.

I told them about the preschool security footage and repeated exactly what Zack had said.

Ethan and Claire reached the hospital to find two very serious officers waiting.

“Officer, this is a misunderstanding. All of it.”

Ethan hurried to explain.

“The kids were playing. My nephew's only five. He doesn't know any better.”

One officer frowned and looked at Claire.

“A child may not understand the consequences. An adult should.”

“He said this came from his mother. Ma'am, we need you to come to the station and answer some questions.”

Claire began crying, trembling behind Ethan.

“I didn't do it, officer. How could I tell my child to kill someone?”

“Sarah's never liked me. She must have coached Zack to say that!”

She turned toward me, looking wounded.

“I know you're angry that Ethan shut off your card. But how can you make up something like this about me?”

I gave a short, disbelieving laugh at her innocent act.

“Make it up?”

“The school has the footage. I recorded Zack saying what you told him. The police can decide for themselves.”

Ethan glared at me, furious.

“Will you not be satisfied until you've destroyed this family?”

“She's my brother's widow! He just died, and you're trying to put her in prison!”

I stood and walked slowly toward him.

I'd loved this man for five years. Looking at him now, I felt no warmth at all.

“Ethan, this family was destroyed the moment you defended them after her son locked Sophie on that roof.”

“I don't care who tries to stop me. I'm seeing this through.”

The officers took Claire away.

Zack was too young to face criminal prosecution. That didn't mean his mother could escape an investigation into whether she'd put him up to it.

Ethan was frantic. He shot me one last furious look and turned to follow the police car.

“Ethan.”

I stopped him.

He looked back impatiently.

“What now? Haven't you done enough today?”

I met his eyes and spoke clearly.

“I want a divorce.”

His eyes widened.

For a moment, he seemed genuinely stunned that I'd say it now.

Then the surprise gave way to a contemptuous smile.

“A divorce?”

“You think threatening me with that is going to work?”

“You just got some lousy entry-level job. What do you make a month?”

“How are you going to support Sophie without me? You don't even have a place to live!”

“Don't bluff, Sarah. If you've got the nerve, go file the papers tomorrow.”

He walked away without looking back, in a hurry to get his precious sister-in-law out of trouble.

I watched him go and let myself smile.

Threaten him?

No. I meant to take everything I could from him.