Page 24 of Fatal Witness

“Because Keith called and told me in no uncertain terms to withdraw the offer. That you were under the care of a psychiatrist and too fragile to live on your own.”

“What?” Dani blinked and sat back. She didn’t know what to say. Why would Keith lie about that? What else had he lied about?

Their server picked that moment to bring their food. “Hereyou go, ladies. Sorry it took so long.” The server set each of their plates on the table. “I hope you enjoy.”

Dani stared at the food, her stomach churning like a hurricane.

“I’m sorry.” Evelyn reached across the table and squeezed Dani’s hand. “I shouldn’t have told you all that, especially before our food came.”

Dani raised her gaze. Regret filled her friend’s eyes. “It’s all right. The omelet looks delicious.” She would eat the food if it killed her rather than disappoint Evelyn. She picked up her fork and took a bite. And another. Neither of them spoke as she went through the motions and the food on her plate disappeared. If Evelyn had asked what it tasted like, Dani couldn’t have told her.

When she finished, Dani laid the fork on her plate. “For the record, I haven’t seen a psychiatrist since I was eleven. I don’t understand why Keith told you that.”

“For whatever reason, he feared you leaving his protection.”

“You mean control.”

“That, and I’d like to know why he feels he needs to protect you. Maybe it has to do with your parents’ deaths. How did they die?”

Evelyn’s words hit her like ice water, and she gasped.

Her friend’s eyes widened, and she pressed her hand to her chest. “Did I say something wrong?”

Dani stared down at her clasped fingers, where her knuckles were turning white. She didn’t remember locking her hands together. “It’s just that ... until last night, I didn’t know. I didn’t even know their names.”

“I don’t understand.”

“I better give you a little background first.” Dani unlocked her hands and took a deep breath, releasing tension as she exhaled. “The only memories I have of my early childhood are of my life in Montana. According to Keith, I was nine when we moved there. Before that—nothing. Since I don’t remember my parents, I figured they must’ve died earlier.”

“Dissociative amnesia disorder,” Evelyn said softly. “Probably caused by your parents’ deaths.”

She nodded. “That’s what my college counselor called it.”

“Did you ever ask Keith what happened?”

“Yes. As well as that psychiatrist that I saw off and on until I was eleven.”

“And ...?”

“I received a vague answer from the doctor, something about I was seeing her to regain my memory. Looking back now, I don’t think Keith gave her any of the details.

“When I was fifteen, I asked Keith about my parents, and he lost it.” Dani closed her eyes briefly, reliving his breakdown. “I’d never seen him that way. He told me that if it was something I needed to know, he would’ve already told me.”

“And you, being the people pleaser you are, didn’t argue. You let it drop.”

“I am not a people pleaser.” The words rang hollow even in Dani’s ears. She picked at the hangnail on her thumb. “It’s just, he was always so disappointed when I didn’t agree with him. I couldn’t take that.”

“Why was that?”

“He was the only family I had.”

“And Laura?”

“They didn’t marry until I was eleven, and while I always knew she loved me and I loved her, she wasn’t blood kin. Besides, Laura wouldn’t have known about anything that happened before we moved to Montana unless he told her. And I’m sure he didn’t.”

“Earlier you referenced something about last night. What was that about?”

Dani’s fingers shook as she reached for the glass of water. It was so difficult to share anything private.And why is that?Because that’s the way Keith raised her. But Dani needed an outside opinion, someone to help her see things clearly.

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