Suddenly, Jacob’s warning made sense.
He hadn’t known the whole story.
He had simply seen enough to know something was wrong.
The officers brought Melissa inside after they finished searching the yard.
She stopped near the doorway.
Her eyes were swollen.
“I was trying to protect him,” she said.
I placed my hands gently on Ethan’s shoulders.
“You asked a seven-year-old to keep a secret about a dangerous man.”
“I know.”
“You stayed across the street after I told you to leave.”
“I saw the police car turning onto the block. I thought Darren might be nearby. I couldn’t leave Ethan alone with that bag in the yard.”
“You could have told me.”
Melissa looked at Ethan.
“I was ashamed.”
Her voice broke.
“Darren has hurt people before. I kept believing I could handle him. I thought if I gave the police the bag, he’d know I took it. Then he would come after all of you.”
