Chapter 6: The Truth Claire Buried
I didn’t sleep.
I couldn’t.
Every time I closed my eyes, I saw the picture.
Maya asleep in her own bed.
Completely unaware that someone had been watching her.
Someone had entered our home.
Someone had taken that photo.
And someone wanted me afraid.
But fear was no longer the strongest thing I felt.
Anger was.
By morning, Detective Lewis had traced the number.
“Burner phone,” he said.
“So nothing?””
“Not nothing.””
He placed a file on the table.
“We found the location where the phone was activated.””
I looked at him.
“Where?””
He hesitated.
“Near your house.””
I felt sick.
“How near?””
“Two blocks.””
I looked toward Maya’s room.
Someone had been close.
Watching.
Waiting.
Detective Lewis continued.
“We also need to discuss Claire.””
I leaned back.
“What about her?””
“She admitted she gave Maya the medication.””
The room went silent.
For a moment, I felt nothing.
No anger.
No shock.
Just emptiness.
“She admitted it?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
Detective Lewis opened his notebook.
“She claims she was trying to help Maya.””
I laughed bitterly.
“Help her?””
“She says Maya had anxiety problems.””
I looked away.
“She had normal teenage stress.””
“That’s not what Claire believes.””
I looked at him.
“What does that mean?””
Detective Lewis sighed.
“She says Maya was becoming unstable.””
My jaw tightened.
“Unstable?””
“She claims Maya was having emotional episodes.””
“That’s a lie.””
“Can you prove it?””
I thought about it.
Then remembered something.
“Maya keeps a journal.””
Detective Lewis looked up.
“Where?””
“In her room.””
We went home that afternoon.
Walking through the front door felt strange.
It was the same house.
Same furniture.
Same pictures on the walls.
But it didn’t feel like home anymore.
I walked upstairs.
Maya’s bedroom door was closed.
I opened it slowly.
Everything was exactly how she left it.
Her books.
Her stuffed animals from childhood.
The drawings she refused to throw away.
I opened the desk drawer.
Nothing.
The closet.
Nothing.
Then I remembered.
When Maya was little, she had a secret hiding place.
A loose floorboard beneath her bed.
I moved the bed.
The board lifted.
Inside was a small notebook.
I opened it.
The first pages were normal.
School.
Friends.
Homework.
Then the entries changed.
*March 4*
Mom got angry again today.
She said I make everything harder.
I stopped breathing.
I turned the page.
*March 10*
Mom gave me another pill.
I don’t like how it makes me feel.
Another page.
*March 17*
She said Dad worries too much.
She said if Dad knew, he would ruin everything.
My hands shook.
I turned one more page.
The final entry.
*March 22*
I heard Mom talking to Daniel.
They said if Dad found out, everything would be over.
I closed the journal.
Detective Lewis read silently beside me.
“This changes things.””
I looked at him.
“What do you mean?””
“This proves Claire knew Maya was afraid.””
I nodded.
“And she still did it.””
Before he could answer, my phone rang.
Claire.
I stared at the screen.
Then answered.
“Where are you?””
Her voice sounded broken.
“Marcus, I need you to listen.””
“I’ve been listening.””
“Not to me.””
I said nothing.
“Daniel lied to me.””
My grip tightened.
“What?””
“He used me.””
I almost laughed.
“You expect me to believe that?””
“It’s true.””
“Then tell me everything.””
Silence.
Then Claire whispered:
“I didn’t give Maya the pills because I wanted to hurt her.””
“Why did you?””
“Because Daniel told me they would help.””
“Help with what?””
Her breathing shook.
“He said Maya knew something.””
My blood ran cold.
“What did she know?””
Claire didn’t answer.
“Claire.””
“She saw something.””
“What?””
“She saw Daniel taking money.””
I froze.
“What money?””
“My money.””
I frowned.
“Your money?””
Claire’s voice cracked.
“The money from the business account.””
I looked at Detective Lewis.
He was listening.
“What was Daniel doing with it?””
“He was hiding it.””
“Why?””
“I don’t know.””
The silence stretched.
Then Claire whispered:
“But Maya found out.””
My heart raced.
“What did she see?””
Claire started crying.
“Something that proved Daniel wasn’t just stealing.””
“What?””
Her answer came softly.
“He was planning to disappear.””
I looked at the journal.
The pills.
The lies.
The secret meetings.
Everything connected.
But then Claire said something that made me freeze.
“Marcus…”
“What?””
“I wasn’t the one who gave Maya the final dose.””
My blood turned cold.
“What did you say?””
“I gave her pills before.””
A pause.
“But that night…”
May you like
Her voice broke.
“Daniel was the one who came into her room.””
