Chapter 21: Statements

Corinna stood with one hand pressed to her cheek.

Against her white dress, the red mark looked like a brand.

Nobody in the ballroom made a sound.

Then the double doors at the back opened, and two plainclothes detectives came down the center aisle.

They walked without hurrying, and the crowd pulled in its chairs to let them pass.

"Corinna Danvers," the taller one said. "We'd like you to come with us."

"On what charge?" she said, and her voice cracked. "On his word? He's a liar. He's been lying for nine years."

"Mr. Chamberlin gave us a full statement this morning," the detective said.

"It will be checked. After tonight, we also have yours."

Her mouth opened, and she looked around the room for one friendly face.

She found only phones held up, and her mother's turned back.

"Gavin," she said.

He stood at the lectern with the microphone hanging from his hand.

"You promised me," she said. "You said you'd never"

"I did," Gavin said. "I'm sorry I kept it for so long."

The second detective took her wrist and brought it down behind her.

The cuffs closed on her red nails, and she made a sound I had never heard from a human throat.

"Callie!" she screamed.

I realized she was looking at me.

The detectives were walking her up the aisle, and she had twisted around with her hair coming loose.

"You could have stayed in the back seat," she said. "You'd have been fine. You'd have had everything."

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