Chapter 13 - Matthew Came Back for One Reason
Matthew didn't answer calls.
He answered Rebecca.
Lawyers have a way of making silence expensive.
He agreed to meet only if police were present and Diane wasn't told.
We met at a roadside motel conference room fifty miles outside town.
Matthew looked like Ryan after twenty years of bad sleep.
Same eyes.
Same jaw.
None of the confidence.
He sat at the far end of the table.
"I didn't hurt Lily."
"That's a low bar," I said.
He flinched.
"Why were you at the cabin?"
"Mom called me."
"You said you cut her off."
"I did."
"Then why go?"
Matthew looked at Frank.
"Because she said Dad was back."
Frank stared at him.
"She knew?"
"She knew you were talking to somebody."
Diane had been aware of Frank before Thanksgiving.
Another assumption collapsed.
Matthew continued.
"Mom said Megan was going to take Lily and disappear. Ryan wanted statements from people who could say Megan was unstable."
"So you helped them coach my daughter?"
"No. I walked out when I realized Lily was there."
"Why didn't you call me?"
His face tightened.
"Because people in this family learn to survive by leaving."
"Children don't get to leave."
He looked down.
That landed.
Officer Patel asked about the fake school contact.
Matthew denied creating it.
Then she showed him the prepaid number.
His face changed.
"I've seen that number."
"Where?"
"Mom's old phone."
"Diane added Frank as a fake emergency contact?"
"Maybe."
"Why?"
Matthew rubbed his forehead.
"Because she likes backup plans."
I leaned forward.
"What plan?"
He didn't answer.
"Matthew."
"If Ryan ever lost custody temporarily, someone else authorized by the school could pick Lily up."
My stomach turned.
"You think Diane was preparing to take her?"
"I think Mom doesn't believe courts get to decide who belongs to her."
Frank whispered, "Jesus."
Matthew looked at him.
"Don't act surprised."
The two men stared at each other across years of damage.
Then Matthew reached into his backpack.
Officer Patel immediately stood.
"Easy," he said.
He pulled out a sealed envelope.
"This is why I came."
Inside were photocopies of letters Diane had sent him over the last year.
Most complained about me.
Megan is controlling.
Megan keeps Lily from family.
Megan is turning Ryan soft.
Then one letter, dated three months ago, contained a line that made everyone stop.
IF MEGAN EVER TRIES TO CUT ME OFF, WE DO WHAT WE DID WITH CLAIRE.
I looked at Matthew.
"What did you do with Claire?"
He didn't answer immediately.
Claire had told me she left Matthew after Ethan was hurt.
She had custody.
She was safe now.
But Matthew's face told me there was a missing chapter.
"What did your mother do?"
Matthew finally spoke.
"She tried to have Claire declared mentally unfit."
"How?"
"She planted prescription pills in Claire's car."
Nobody moved.
Matthew swallowed.
"And Ryan helped her."
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