Chapter 5 - The FriendValerie called Claire.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
She checked the security system.
One camera had stopped working exactly three days earlier.
The camera pointed toward the back entrance.
Claire was the only person outside the family who had the alarm code.
Valerie sat down.
"How could I not see this?"
Nick spoke softly.
"Because she wanted you not to."
Harris looked at him.
"You sound like you've done this before."
Nick's face tightened.
"I've spent my whole life learning when adults are lying."
That sentence silenced everyone.
By evening, Claire finally called.
"Valerie? I'm sorry. I've been in meetings."
Valerie tried to keep her voice calm.
"Where are you?"
"At home."
"Can you come over?"
A pause.
"Why?"
"I just need to see you."
Another pause.
"Of course."
Claire arrived twenty minutes later.
She stepped inside smiling.
Then saw the police officers.
Her smile disappeared.
"What happened?"
Valerie stared at her.
"You tell me."
Claire looked confused.
"About what?"
Harris stepped forward.
"Ms. Bennett, we need to ask you some questions."
"About?"
"Daniel."
Claire's face went white.
But she recovered quickly.
"I haven't spoken to Daniel today."
Valerie studied her.
"I didn't ask if you had."
Silence.
Claire looked at Valerie.
"What are you implying?"
Valerie placed one of the photographs on the table.
Claire saw it.
Her expression changed.
Not shock.
Recognition.
Harris noticed too.
"Do you know this picture?"
"No."
"You answered too quickly."
Claire stood.
"I don't appreciate being accused."
Valerie's voice broke.
"Did you help Daniel?"
Claire looked at her.
Then at Thomas.
Then at Nick.
"You really don't know, do you?"
Valerie froze.
"Know what?"
Claire laughed bitterly.
"Daniel wasn't the only person keeping secrets."
Harris moved closer.
"What are you talking about?"
Claire looked at Valerie.
"Your husband has been lying to you for years."
Valerie felt a chill.
"About what?"
"About Thomas."
Thomas stood.
"What about me?"
Claire closed her eyes.
"Ask your mother who Thomas's biological father is."
The room went completely still.
Valerie stared.
"You're lying."
Claire shook her head.
"I'm not."
Thomas looked at Valerie.
"Mom?"
Valerie couldn't breathe.
Daniel had always been the one person she never questioned about Thomas's birth.
There had been no reason to question it.
Until now.
Harris asked,
"Ms. Mercer, is Daniel the biological father?"
Valerie stared at Claire.
Claire answered.
"No."
Thomas's face crumpled.
Valerie stood.
"You knew?"
"Yes."
"How?"
"Because Daniel told me."
"Why would he tell you?"
Claire looked toward Nick.
"Because he knew the truth would destroy everything."
Valerie's hands shook.
"Then tell me."
Claire hesitated.
"Thomas was conceived before you married Daniel."
Valerie's heart pounded.
She remembered.
A summer before her marriage.
A man she had loved.
A man she had lost.
Daniel had been her friend then.
Supportive.
Patient.
Always there.
She had never told him everything.
But after that summer, Daniel had remained beside her.
Then came the pregnancy.
Then the wedding.
Then Thomas.
Valerie had always assumed Daniel was the father.
Claire whispered,
"Daniel knew you were pregnant before you did."
Valerie's eyes widened.
"How?"
"Because he read your medical records."
Harris stepped forward.
"Why?"
Claire's voice broke.
"Because the man Valerie loved was Daniel's brother."
Thomas stared at the floor.
Nick looked horrified.
Valerie felt the room spinning.
Daniel wasn't Thomas's father.
He was Thomas's uncle.
And he had spent twelve years pretending otherwise.
May you like
Then Claire said the one thing that terrified Valerie more than anything else.
"Thomas's real father is alive."
