"What kind?"
Marcus took a breath.
"The kind that makes people disappear from reports."
I started the engine.
And drove.
Chapter 2 — The House on Willow Street
I arrived at my mother's house at 3:06 a.m.
The porch light was on.
Two police cars were parked across the street.
One ambulance sat at the curb.
I stopped before getting out.
Something felt wrong.
Not chaotic.
Controlled.
The kind of scene where everyone already knew what story they were supposed to tell.
I walked toward the front door.
A uniformed officer stepped in front of me.
"Sir, you need to stay back."
"I'm Daniel Carter. That's my mother."
He looked at his tablet.
Then at me.
"She's being processed."
"Processed for what?"
He hesitated.
"Assault."
I stared at him.
"She's seventy-two."
"That doesn't make her immune from arrest."
"Who arrested her?"
The officer looked toward the driveway.
Officer Bell.
He was standing beside my brother.
Evan looked at me.
He didn't move.
"Daniel," he said.
"What happened?"
Evan looked down.
"Mom attacked Rachel."
"Where's Rachel?"
"Inside."
"Is she injured?"
"She has a cut."
"What caused it?"
"I don't know."
I looked at him.
"Did you see it?"
He hesitated.
"Yes."
"What did Mom do?"
"She grabbed something."
"What?"
"I don't remember."
"How convenient."
Evan's face hardened.
"Don't start."
"Start what?"
"Making this about me."
I stepped closer.
"I'm asking what happened to our mother."
He lowered his voice.
"She's been acting strange for months."
I stared at him.
"Strange how?"
"Forgetful."
"She remembered my birthday yesterday."