“Oh my god, honey, what’s the matter?” I exclaim.
“Something,” he says. His chest heaves as he speaks.
“Something what?”
“Something bad happened.”
7
Gasping, I yank Henry inside, kick the door closed with my bare foot, and wrap an arm around him.
“Can you tell me what happened?” I ask, trying to keep my voice calm as my shock morphs into dread.
“Gee,” he says. “It... it’s about Gee.”
My heart nearly stops.
“Is she okay? Is she sick?”
“Not sick. She’s really mad.”
“Atyou, honey?” I can’t imagine that.
“No... at someone else.” He starts to cry again, softly, and swipes his tears away with the back of his hand. “I heard her when I was in my room—and I got really scared.”
Okay, none of this is making any sense, but at least the house isn’t burning to the ground like Manderley.
“Come sit. I’ll get you a glass of water and we can talk about it some more.”
I lead him to the couch, flicking on a light as we go. The back of his pajama top, I realize, is damp with perspiration.
“Is Daddy here?” he asks mournfully as I turn toward the kitchen.
“Yes, of course. Want me to wake him up?”
But I don’t have to. Suddenly there’s the sound of feet barreling down the enclosed staircase, and Gabe emerges dressed only in his boxer briefs. His gaze immediately falls on Henry and he rushes toward him.
“Hen, what’s happened?”
Henry glances at me, like he’s wondering if he should start at the beginning again.
“He thought he heard your mother yelling at someone in the house, and it frightened him,” I say.
“Notyelling,” Henry corrects me. “She was scolding the person. And it wasn’t in the house. It was outside my window.”
Outside?Had Claire encountered a would-be intruder prowling around the house?
“What was Gee saying?” Gabe asks, dropping onto the couch next to Henry.
“She was telling them she knew what they were up to. And that they better do the right thing.”
No, not a stranger then. Someone in the family—or the person’s partner. Could she have been talking to Hannah? Based on what Claire told me, I’d assumed she’d be biding her time, but maybe she decided to bring the situation to a head tonight.
“But you don’t know who Gee was talking to?” I ask.
Henry shakes his head.
“And when did this happen, buddy?” Gabe prods. “Just now?”
