“To keep quiet about the classified work and protect you from Samuel.”
Daniel spoke. “Why did Claire have to give you an alibi?”
“Because Samuel had already told the board I was embezzling research funds. If police focused on me, he would gain time to destroy the evidence.”
“You let your daughter lie.”
“I made a terrible choice.”
“You let her believe her mother died in an accident.”
“I believed the truth would destroy both girls.”
I picked up Rosie’s letter.
“She says you murdered Mom.”
“Rosie saw fragments and formed a conclusion.”
There it was.
The same dismissal.
The same polished contempt.
“Rosie does not ‘form conclusions’ because she’s confused,” I said. “She investigates. She remembers. She understands.”
My father’s expression hardened.
“She also trusts Ben Carter, which may cost her everything.”
“Did you cause her medical emergency?”
His eyes widened.
“No.”
“Did you touch her medication?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Did Graham?”
“I haven’t spoken to Graham in months.”
Daniel’s phone buzzed.
He checked the screen.
His face changed.
“What is it?” I asked.
He did not answer.
My father saw the reaction and suddenly moved.
Not toward us.
Toward the grocery bag.
Daniel shouted, “Don’t!”
My father kicked it across the floor.
A glass jar shattered inside.
Sharp chemical fumes filled the room.
Daniel grabbed me and pulled me backward as smoke curled from the soaked paper.
The laptop sat open on the table.
The flash drive lay beside it.
My father lunged.
I reached it first.
He caught my wrist.
“Give it to me.”
“You said you were innocent.”
“I’m trying to keep you alive.”
“By destroying evidence?”
“Samuel had partners. They’re still watching.”
Daniel struck my father’s arm away and forced him against the counter.
“Richard Hale, you are under arrest.”
“For what?”
“Obstruction, evidence tampering, and assault, for a start.”
My father twisted his head toward me.
“Claire, listen. The drive contains a file Rosie never understood. If it opens, people will come for you.”
“What file?”
“The one marked LAST.”
The smoke alarm began shrieking.
Daniel handcuffed him while I opened windows.
My father shouted over the alarm.
