Chapter 12 - THE HOUSE WHERE EVERYONE LIED
Maya returned to the house eleven days later.
Not to reconcile.
To collect the rest of her belongings.
The police arranged another civil standby because Daniel still lived there.
Linda had moved temporarily to Patricia’s house in Tulsa after telling Daniel she wanted a separation.
Daniel blamed Maya.
He stood in the driveway when Claire pulled up behind Maya’s adaptive Honda.
“You got what you wanted.”
Maya opened her door.
“You don’t know what I want.”
“Your mother left.”
“That was her decision.”
Daniel laughed.
“You think she suddenly grew a backbone? Claire filled her head.”
Claire stepped out of her car.
Maya looked at her.
Claire stopped where she was.
Maya faced Daniel herself.
“Did you cut my crutch tip?”
Daniel’s smile faded.
“Your mother’s feeding you garbage because she got caught stealing money.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“I fixed that thing every time you complained.”
“Did you cut it?”
“No.”
Maya held his gaze.
“Mom says she saw you.”
Something flashed across his face.
Not fear.
Rage.
“Your mother told me we needed more hours.”
Claire heard it.
So did the officer twenty feet away.
Daniel realized too late what he had said.
He tried to recover.
“That doesn’t mean I touched the crutch.”
Maya spoke quietly.
“Why did you need more hours?”
“Because this house costs money.”
“I paid rent.”
“You think six hundred fifty dollars makes you an adult?”
Maya’s shoulders went rigid.
Claire took one involuntary step.
Maya lifted her hand.
Stay.
Claire stayed.
“Yes,” Maya said. “Paying my bills, working, driving, making my own medical decisions, and signing my own lease make me an adult.”
Daniel scoffed.
“You always need somebody.”
Maya looked at him for a long moment.
“So do you.”
His face changed.
“Difference is, I never had to make you weaker so I could pretend otherwise.”
Daniel moved toward her.
The officer stepped closer.
Daniel stopped.
Linda’s car appeared at the end of the street.
Maya stared.
Patricia was driving.
Linda sat in the passenger seat.
She had not told Maya she was coming.
Linda got out carrying a cardboard box.
Daniel’s entire posture changed.
“What are you doing here?”
Linda looked at him.
“Telling her where the other crutch tips are.”
Daniel swore.
“Linda.”
“You kept them in the red toolbox.”
He stared at her.
Linda’s hands shook, but she kept going.
“You told me throwing them away at once would look strange.”
Maya’s face drained of expression.
Daniel took a step toward Linda.
The officer moved between them.
Daniel pointed around him.
“She told me to make Maya look dependent.”
Linda’s voice cracked.
“I told you I needed the reassessment approved.”
“Exactly.”
“I never told you to make her fall.”
“You didn’t ask questions when the checks increased.”
Linda looked at Maya.
Maya looked away.
For once, nobody could hide behind a single villain.
Daniel had chosen violence.
Linda had chosen deception.
Each had used the other as permission.
Maya walked past both of them into the house.
In the garage, the officer stood nearby while Linda pointed toward a red metal toolbox beneath Daniel’s workbench.
Nobody opened it.
The officer told them not to touch anything until the investigator decided what could legally be collected.
Maya nodded.
As they returned to the driveway, Linda said, “I’m sorry.”
Maya kept walking.
Linda tried again.
“Maya.”
Maya stopped but did not turn.
“You’re still trying to make me responsible for making you feel better.”
Linda’s mouth opened.
May you like
Maya looked back at her.
“I’m not doing that job anymore.”
