The Story on the Evening News
Chapter 15 - The Story on the Evening News
Daniel publicly confessed.
He gave prosecutors financial records.
Emails.
Voicemails.
Every document connecting his mother to the cover-up.
Then he resigned as CEO of the family company.
By evening, the story was national news.
THE BENNETT FAMILY SECRET.
MISSING BOY FOUND AFTER SEVEN YEARS.
WEALTHY GRANDMOTHER CHARGED IN COVER-UP.
Claire hated every headline.
Eli hated the cameras more.
Reporters waited outside the house.
Parents whispered at Owen's school.
One boy told Owen his family was famous for kidnapping.
Owen punched him.
Claire was called to the principal's office.
On the drive home, she tried to be angry.
She couldn't quite manage it.
“You still can't punch people.”
“He said Eli was stolen property.”
“I understand.”
“He said Dad helped.”
Claire tightened her hands around the steering wheel.
Owen looked out the window.
“Did he?”
Children had a brutal way of asking questions adults spent years avoiding.
“Your father made terrible mistakes.”
“So yes.”
“Yes.”
Owen wiped his eyes angrily.
“Do I have to hate him?”
Claire pulled the car over.
She turned toward her son.
“No.”
“Do you?”
Claire thought carefully.
“I hate some things he did.”
“That's not what I asked.”
“No.”
She surprised herself.
“I don't hate your father.”
Owen looked relieved.
“Are you going to divorce him?”
“I don't know.”
At home, they found Eli packing.
Claire's stomach dropped.
“Not again.”
He shook his head.
“I'm not running.”
“Then what are you doing?”
“I want to go somewhere.”
“Where?”
He held out a newspaper clipping about June Carter's grave.
“I never said goodbye.”
Claire understood.
Two days later, she drove both boys to Wisconsin.
June's grave was small.
No flowers.
Eli stood silently.
Then he placed half a sandwich on the ground.
Owen looked at him.
“Why half?”
“She used to give me half when we didn't have enough.”
Claire turned away.
Eli whispered something to the grave.
Claire did not ask what.
On the drive home, Eli finally told her.
“I said I forgive her for lying.”
Claire reached for his hand.
He let her take it.
“But I don't forgive her for keeping me.”
Claire nodded.
“You don't have to.”
Eli looked out the window.
“Do I have to forgive Dad?”
Claire thought of Daniel.
“No.”
“Will you?”
Claire looked at the road ahead.
“I don't know yet.”
Then her phone rang.
It was Alvarez.
May you like
Thomas Reed had disappeared.
And so had Owen.
