The Littlest Prosecutor novel · Chapter 12 of 24

Chapter 12: Defendant Two

"Patrick, listen to me," Faye said.

She had stopped crying.

She stepped toward him with both hands out.

"I said what I had to say on the phone. You were in an airport. You were already so worried. I was protecting you."

"By lying to me."

"By sparing you."

"Faye," Daddy said, and his voice was very flat. "Go and sit in the car."

"Patrick."

"Please."

It was the first time I had ever heard him say that word to her like it meant stop.

Faye looked at him for a long moment.

Then she looked at the uncles, and Grandpa, and Aunt Jo, and last of all at me.

She turned and went down the porch steps, and the yellow dress swung behind her.

She did not slam the car door.

She sat in the front seat with her face turned away, perfectly still.

Daddy stood on the porch with the roses.

He didn't seem to know what to do with them.

He set them down carefully on the bench.

"Dad," he said. "I need to hear all of it. Everything. From the beginning."

"Come in," said Grandpa.

We all went into the big dining room and sat at the long table.

Daddy sat at one end, and I sat in the middle, with Uncle Desmond on my left and Aunt Jo on my right.

Aunt Jo reached under her chair, and she handed me a green folder.

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