Crash Audio

Claire did not deny screaming.

That was the problem.

She sat in the interview room with June on one side and Elise on the other while Roslyn stood at the wall-mounted screen. Theo had recovered only thirty-one seconds of the crash audio. Thirty-one seconds could ruin a person if placed well.

"Play it," Claire said.

June grabbed her hand. Claire did not look away from the screen.

The audio began with rain and a car chime. Vivian's voice came first, strained but alive.

You signed it, Claire. Do not pretend innocence now.

Claire's recorded voice broke through, younger and raw.

I signed because you told me it protected June.

Vivian said, It protected June from Martin.

A third voice entered, low and male.

Enough.

Then Claire screamed.

The file ended before impact, before breath, before death. It left the worst work to imagination.

June whispered, "Were you there?"

Claire's hand tightened around hers. "Yes."

Elise stood so fast her chair scraped. "You watched Vivian die?"

"No. I left before the crash."

"The audio says otherwise."

Claire looked at her with soaked eyes. "It says I screamed."

Roslyn leaned against the table. "Tell us why."

Claire closed her eyes. "Vivian called me to Harbor Road. She said Martin had used my signatures on grant accounts. She said if I testified, she could keep June's adoption out of it. Martin arrived. They fought. Vivian played him the video June took."

"Then?" Elise asked.

"Martin slapped Vivian. I screamed. Vivian told me to run to June. So I ran."

"You left her with him."

Claire looked at Elise, and for the first time did not defend herself.

"Yes," she said.

June pulled her hand away.

Outside the room, Martin's lawyer arrived with two associates and an emergency court order.

The order named Elise as a fraud suspect and Claire as an unfit guardian.