"That doesn't mean anything."
"She remembered Dad's old insurance policy number."
He said nothing.
Then I saw Rachel.
She walked onto the porch.
There was a small bandage on her forehead.
She looked frightened.
Almost perfect.
"Daniel," she said.
"What happened?"
"Your mother attacked me."
"With what?"
She hesitated.
"A kitchen object."
"What object?"
"I don't know."
I looked at Evan.
He wouldn't meet my eyes.
Then I noticed something else.
My mother's left wrist was badly swollen.
Her blouse was torn.
There was bruising around her shoulder.
And there was dried blood near her hairline.
I turned toward the officer.
"Why wasn't she taken to a hospital?"
"She refused."
I looked at my mother through the window.
She was sitting on a bench.
An officer stood beside her.
She looked directly at me.
Then shook her head.
She hadn't refused.
She had been denied.
I knew it.
And suddenly, I noticed the police body camera on Officer Bell.
The indicator light was off.
I pointed.
"Why isn't his camera recording?"
The younger officer beside him looked uncomfortable.
Bell answered immediately.
"Technical issue."
"Funny."
His eyes narrowed.
"What did you say?"
"Nothing."
I took out my phone.
I photographed the scene.
Bell stepped toward me.
"Put that away."
"No."
"This is an active investigation."
"Then preserve everything."
He laughed.
"You don't tell me how to do my job."
I looked him directly in the eyes.
"Maybe not."
Then I showed him my phone.
A message had arrived from Marcus.
STATE PRESERVATION ORDER ACTIVATED. DO NOT LET THEM DELETE ANYTHING.
Bell's smile disappeared.
For the first time that night, I knew we had a chance.
Chapter 3 — What My Mother Had Refused to Sign
At 4:11 a.m., my mother was finally taken to the hospital.
Dr. Samuel Price examined her.
He found a fractured wrist, two bruised ribs, and a mild concussion.