My mother covered her mouth. My father lowered his head, shaking.
I did not cry. Not then. If I started, I would drown.
Home security systems
The recording ended with Maya saying my name.
Call Lena.
Daniel stared at the floor as though a trapdoor had opened beneath him.
Pierce stood frozen. His client had not told him about the recording. Criminals rarely give their lawyers useful honesty.
Detective Ramos turned Daniel around. “Daniel Voss, you are under arrest for murder, conspiracy, insurance fraud, evidence tampering, and financial crimes related to the theft of marital assets.”
Celeste backed away. “I didn’t know. Daniel, tell them I didn’t know.”
He looked at her with pure hatred. “You sent the messages.”
“And you killed her,” she whispered.
The detectives arrested her too.
Daniel’s mother screamed that we were animals, that Maya had ruined everything by being weak. My father finally stood.
Doors & Windows
“My daughter was not weak,” he said, his voice quiet enough to cut through every shout. “She survived your son until the day he made sure she couldn’t.”
As they dragged Daniel past me, he stopped fighting.
“You planned this,” he said.
