Daniel closed his eyes briefly.
“I wasn’t unavailable. My phone was in my locker.”
Silas stepped out of his father’s hands.
“I needed someone to believe me.”
Daniel looked at him.
“I believe you.”
“No, you don’t.”
The words weren’t loud.
That made them heavier.
Silas pointed toward the pantry.
“You said there wasn’t anything back there.”
Daniel’s face lost its color.
“I said it was storage.”
“You said Mom was gone.”
“She is.”
“There are letters.”
Daniel turned toward the hidden doorway.
For several seconds, he did not move.
Then he walked into the room.
I followed at a distance, leaving Silas where I could still see him.
Daniel stood beside the bed, staring at the envelopes.
“What are these?”
“You tell me.”
“I’ve never seen them.”
“You knew about the room.”
“My mother made it after Elena left. She said Elena would need a place when she came home.”
