Chapter 2 - The Third Clip
Claire had believed her mother, Margaret Bennett, was dead for seventeen years.
Not missing.
Dead.
There had been a hospital.
A body.
A funeral.
Claire had been eighteen.
Margaret died after complications from what family described as sudden brain aneurysm.
Claire remembered touching her mother’s cold hand.
She remembered Eleanor standing beside her.
She remembered the two matching silver clips their mother had given daughters the Christmas before.
Claire kept hers.
Eleanor claimed hers was lost.
Now Ethan had produced an identical clip.
And stranger in town car appeared to wear a third.
There had never been three.
At least Claire had never known.
Police found Ethan with Claire because hotel security called after seeing distressed child.
He gave name:
Ethan Cole.
No missing-child alert matched.
He said he lived “with Miss Mara.”
Who was Mara?
He shut down.
Where were parents?
“Gone.”
How had he reached café?
Bus.
Then walking.
Who gave him hair clip?
“She did.”
Who?
“The lady.”
Name?
Ethan looked at Claire.
“She said you called her Mom.”
Claire felt room tilt.
Detective did not leap to resurrection.
Neither did Claire.
Children misremember.
Adults manipulate.
Matching objects can be duplicated.
Then Eleanor returned Claire’s calls.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“You were at café.”
“No.”
“I saw you.”
Silence.
“Eleanor.”
“You’re upset.”
“I saw your car.”
Another silence.
Claire’s anger sharpened.
“Who was inside it?”
Eleanor’s voice dropped.
“You need to stay away from that boy.”
“Why?”
“He isn’t safe.”
“For me?”
“No.”
“For himself.”
Claire stared through hotel window toward Ethan being questioned gently.
“What does he know?”
“Too much.”
Claire’s voice lowered.
“About Mom?”
Eleanor did not answer.
That was enough.
Then Ethan asked for Claire.
He handed her folded paper from sock.
Written in blue ink:
THE CLIP IS NOT PROOF I’M ALIVE.
IT IS PROOF ELEANOR LIED ABOUT THE FUNERAL.
Claire read twice.
On back was date.
Three days after Margaret Bennett’s burial.
May you like
And beneath it:
ASK WHOSE BODY YOU TOUCHED.
