Page 33 of Her Submission
“Then you tell them yourself,” Damon said. “Figure out the best way to get the urgency across to them, because I will not have my daughter involved at such a young age.”
Clarise awkwardly shifted in the middle of the sofa, her shoes nowhere close to touching the floor as she sank into the back of the cushion. “Can we go soon?” she asked her father.
“As soon as you tell the Warrens what you overheard Abigail say the other day.”
Monica waited with bated breath. Henry circled his arm around her to keep her still.
“I heard her telling Daisy Tipp in first grade that her grandmother was taking her somewhere this weekend,” Clarise said through a wiggling nose and dour mouth. “I don’t know where. Something about visiting her niece.”
“Whose niece?” Henry asked. “My mother has no nieces. She was an only child.”
Clarise shrugged. “She said niece. Like a niece and nephew. I know what I heard.”
“Where did you hear her saying this?” Monica asked. “I mean, where in the school?”
The girl looked at her as if that were a ridiculous question.Clearly, her father’s daughter.“In the bathroom during the lunch break. The first, second, and third grade all go to lunch at the same time.”
“Did she know that you were listening?” Henry asked.
“No. But you should ask Daisy. They’re friends now.”
Monica wiped her face over her hand, hoping that the girl couldn’t see her shaking. “Whatexactlydo you remember my daughter saying when talking to Daisy?”
Clarise puffed out her cheeks and stared up at the ceiling before making eye contact with her father. Damon curtly encouraged her to share but otherwise remained silent. Only then did Clarise blow out her breath and continue.
“She said,‘my grandma says we’re going somewhere fun this weekend. We’re going to the niece.”
“That makes little sense…”
“That’s what she said!”
Monica held out her palms in surrender. “I’m sure that is what she said, honey. I just don’t understand it.”
“I can talk right.” Clarise looked to her father again. “Right?”
“You’re doing perfectly.” Damon offered a sympathetic mien to the distraught parents. “I wasn’t sure if what she overheard would help or not, but wanted to make sure we dropped by to share. Everyone at the school is on high alert and doing their investigation, but since this sounds like a domestic matter… well, my heart goes out to you.”
Monica was of two minds: she could either slap Damon and piss him off for the rest of the year, or she could get up and turn her back to this farce of a scene.No, don’t think of it that way…Clarise and Abigail didn’t get along. Clarise had no reason to hear that Abigail was missing and told her father that she had heard something that might be of use. Nor did Damon have to bring her here as soon as he heard…
“Thank you,” she said. “I truly appreciate you taking time out of your day to share this with us. We are desperately trying to find Isabella and Abigail and, well, if that’s what she told our daughter, then we’re going to do our best to decipher it. It’s the only lead we have now.”
She meant it, too. A whole day later, and nobody knew anything. The police had found nothing. Isabella still refused to contact them. There were no signs of violence or other related troubles. The only thing the security cameras on the Warren Manor grounds caught was Isabella and Abigail getting into a taxi Saturday afternoon. They were dressed for a proper trip and carried two suitcases between them.
Abigail was smiling. She was excited. Isabella gave her candies as they got into the taxi and looked like a normal grandmother taking her granddaughter out of town for a few days.
Monica was going to be sick.
Henry saw the father and daughter out, thanking them profusely for coming over. Monica remained in front of the office windows, staring out into the driveway that formed a horseshoebetween both wings of the manor. She waited until she saw Damon and Clarise getting back into their car before turning away.
Niece.
What Henry said was true. His mother was an only child and had no nieces or nephews, nor did she call anyone that affectionately.Not to our knowledge.Perhaps Clarise had misunderstood. Or maybe she was making this up as a cruel prank on her best enemy’s family.
No, she wouldn’t do that… would she?
Nothing made sense anymore. Isabella was a deplorable woman, but to kidnap her own granddaughter while everyone else was gone for the weekend? To whatend?Where did theygo?The only thing keeping Monica from going so feral that she was useless to the investigation was the concentrated hope that Isabella would never harm Abigail.
Now, why would Isabella kidnap her granddaughter? That was the greater question than attempting to figure out where they were.
