Chapter 1: The Badge on the Nightstand
Daniel stared at the radio in my hand.
For the first time since I'd arrived, the confidence disappeared from his face.
“Claire, don't do anything stupid,” he said.
I pressed the emergency button.
“This is Officer Claire Bennett. I'm at 1847 Willow Creek Drive. I have an injured female, possible domestic assault, and an uncooperative male subject on scene. Requesting immediate medical assistance and backup.””
Daniel shook his head.
“You're seriously calling the police on me?””
I looked at him.
“I am the police.””
He let out a short, disbelieving laugh.
“You're making a huge mistake. Emma and I had an argument. That's all.””
“Then you won't mind explaining why your wife is lying on the floor covered in bruises.””
He stepped into the bedroom.
“Get out of my house.””
I moved between him and Emma.
“Stay where you are.””
“She's my wife!””
“And she's an injured person. Take another step, and I'll detain you.””
His jaw tightened.
For a moment, I thought he might actually try something.
Then Emma made a small sound behind me.
“Claire…”
I immediately turned.
“I'm here, sweetheart.””
She was trembling. Her good eye struggled to stay open, and her breathing came in short, painful bursts.
I crouched beside her without taking my eyes off Daniel for long.
“Don't try to move. The ambulance is coming.””
“He said…” She swallowed painfully.
“He said nobody would believe me.””
My chest tightened.
“Who said that?””
“Daniel.””
Daniel threw his hands into the air.
“Oh, come on! She's confused. Look at her. She's been acting crazy all night.””
I took out my phone and activated the camera.
“Daniel Mercer, I am documenting the scene. Do not approach your wife. Do not touch anything in this room.””
He laughed.
“You think a badge makes you special?””
“No. It makes me responsible.””
I turned back to Emma.
“Can you tell me what happened?””
Her fingers caught my sleeve.
“He took my phone. I tried to leave.””
“Okay. Don't force yourself to talk.””
“He pushed me against the dresser.””
Daniel interrupted.
“She slipped!””
I raised one hand.
“Stop talking.””
His face flushed.
“You can't order me around in my own house.””
“I can give you lawful instructions while investigating a suspected assault. Whether you choose to follow them is your decision.””
A siren sounded somewhere in the distance.
Daniel looked toward the window.
Then he looked at the bedroom door.
I recognized that expression.
He was calculating.
“Claire,” he said, suddenly lowering his voice.
“Let's talk downstairs. Just the two of us.””
“No.””
“I can explain everything.””
“Then explain it to the responding officers.””
He rubbed his forehead.
“You're destroying my marriage over one bad night.””
I glanced at Emma's swollen face.
“One bad night?””
He said nothing.
I took a clean towel from the bathroom and placed it beside Emma, careful not to move her injured wrist.
“Emma, the paramedics will be here in a minute.””
She nodded weakly.
Then she whispered something that made my stomach turn.
“He said he'd kill me if I told you.””
I froze.
Daniel heard her.
“That's a lie!””
Emma flinched so violently that her injured arm moved.
She cried out.
I stood immediately.
“Daniel, face the wall. Keep your hands where I can see them.””
“You have got to be kidding me.””
“Now.””
He didn't move.
I took one step toward him.
“Do not make this worse.””
His eyes narrowed.
“You have no idea who you're dealing with.””
“I know exactly who I'm dealing with.””
The doorbell rang.
A few seconds later, two uniformed officers entered the house. Behind them came the paramedics carrying their equipment.
Officer James Miller, a patrolman I'd worked with for six years, looked at me.
“Claire? What happened?””
“Possible domestic assault. Victim is upstairs with multiple visible injuries. Suspect is her husband. I've maintained the scene.””
James looked past me.
Then his expression hardened.
“Jesus Christ.””
Daniel immediately changed his tone.
“Officer, thank God you're here. My wife had an accident, and her sister is making this into some kind of personal vendetta.””
James glanced at me.
“Sir, step into the hallway.””
“I haven't done anything.””
“Then cooperating should be easy.””
While James dealt with Daniel, the female paramedic, Melissa, knelt beside Emma.
“Hi, Emma. I'm Melissa. Can you tell me where it hurts?””
“Everywhere.””
Melissa's face softened.
“Okay. We're going to take care of you.””
I stepped back to give them room.
My hands were shaking.
I hadn't noticed until then.
A few minutes later, they carefully secured Emma for transport. Before they lifted the stretcher, she reached toward me.
“Don't let him come near me.””
I squeezed her fingers.
“He won't.””
As the paramedics carried her downstairs, Daniel called after us.
“Emma! Tell them what really happened!””
She closed her eyes.
He turned toward me.
“You're going to regret this, Claire.””
I stopped at the bottom of the stairs.
“No, Daniel. The person who should be worried about regret is the man who thought he could beat his wife and hide behind the words 'family matter.''”
His face turned red.
James stepped between us.
“That's enough.””
I followed the ambulance outside.
The freezing rain had turned into sleet. Red and blue lights reflected across the wet pavement, illuminating the house where my sister had spent three years trying to build a happy marriage.
I climbed into the ambulance.
Emma's fingers found mine.
“Claire?””
“I'm here.””
She looked at me through her swollen eye.
“There's something you need to know.””
“What is it?””
Her lips trembled.
“Tonight wasn't the first time.””
May you like
I felt the world tilt.
And then she told me how long it had really been happening.
