I Died to End Their Lie novel · Chapter 13 of 24

Chapter 13: Thursday Afternoon

Dad was behind his desk at Rittenhouse Homes before the first employee came in.

He was still wearing the suit from the morgue.

I floated by the window and watched him open the letter again and flatten it on the blotter.

At ten to eight his assistant walked in with two coffees.

He set one down in front of Dad, the way he did every morning.

"Sir," he said. "I'm so sorry. I came as soon as I heard the family was..."

"Lock the door."

The assistant looked at him.

"Lock it."

The assistant turned the lock, and the coffee stayed untouched.

"Who told you to send my son to Briar Hollow?" Dad said.

"You did, sir. We talked about it Friday morning."

"Friday morning I told you to find a place that would toughen him up."

"Yes, sir. And I found the farm."

"When did you call the farmer?"

The assistant's mouth opened and closed.

"Answer me."

"Thursday afternoon," he said. "Before four."

Dad's face did not change.

"Thursday afternoon," he said. "I didn't know there was anything to decide on Thursday afternoon."

He leaned on the desk.

"I found out that night, at the bedroom door. I decided on Friday, at breakfast."

"Sir, I..."

"So who told you, on Thursday, to set up a farm?"

The assistant put one hand on the back of the chair.

"I'd like to speak to a lawyer."

"The detective has the farmer's phone." Dad stood up. "It has your number in it."

"Sir..."

"He will ask you the same question."

Dad's voice was flat.

"You can answer me first, or you can answer him with your name on the paper."

The assistant stared at the desk.

Then he took his phone out of his jacket and held it out.

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