Daniel laughed once, a short ugly sound. “Safe from what? From consequences? Ava is making up stories because she got caught lying.” Mark did not raise his voice. “Caught lying about the watch you later had in your car?” The silence that followed was small but powerful. Daniel recovered fast, but not fast enough.
“You have no idea what that kid is like when Claire isn’t around,” Daniel said. “She steals. She manipulates. She cries to get attention.” Claire closed her eyes. He was building the exact lie Ava had feared. He was not even creative enough to invent a new one.
Mark asked, “Did you cut her hair?” Daniel said nothing. Then he said, “I disciplined my stepdaughter in my home. That is not
illegal.” Claire’s stomach twisted, but Mark’s eyes sharpened. “Writing an insult on a child’s injured scalp is not discipline.” Daniel swore, then hung up. The recording was sent to Officer Jenkins within minutes.
