The Wife They Burned novel · Chapter 7 of 32
Chapter 7: Assault
"Go ahead," I said. "Call them."
Marshall's mother already had her phone out.
She dialed with one finger, without hurrying.
"Yes, this is Highmoor," she said. "We've had an assault. My daughter-in-law. Yes, she's still here."
Fallon had started crying again, softly, holding a wet sleeve to her cheek.
I took out my own phone and texted Abel.
At Highmoor. Slapped Fallon. Police coming. Found her coat.
Then I sat down on the velvet bench and waited.
The deputy was about twenty-five, with a fresh haircut and a notebook he kept clicking his pen against.
He stood in the dressing room doorway and looked at the three of us, and the tea on the rug.
"Somebody want to tell me what happened?"
"She attacked me," Fallon said, in a tiny voice. "I was just talking about redecorating."
"Her daughter's room," I said. "She was talking about painting over my daughter's room. My daughter died three weeks ago."
The deputy's pen stopped.
"Ma'am, did you hit her?"
"Yes."
"Open hand or closed?"
"Open."
"Do you want to tell me why?"
"I just did."
Marshall's mother stepped forward.
"Deputy, my daughter-in-law has been under enormous strain. We're very sympathetic. But we can't have violence in this house. We'd like her charged and removed from the property, and we'd like an order keeping her away from Fallon."
"Would you like to apologize, Mrs. Kendrick?" the deputy asked me. "Sometimes that settles things."
"No," I said.
"No, you don't want to?"
"No, I'm not sorry."
Fallon gave a little sob.
The deputy wrote that down.
He was reaching for his cuffs, slowly, when boots came up the stairs two at a time.
Abel filled the doorway behind him.
He was in his county jacket now, with a badge clipped to his belt.
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