Page 79 of Fever Dream

I scoff.“My Charles?That’s absurd.”

He waits patiently.He sits quietly and stoically while I catch up.

“Jay Branson arranged for the kidnapping of your family, Grace.”

“Oh my God.”

“I know it’s a lot to take in.Maybe you should sit down.”

“I’m fine,” I say.It’s not fine.Everything Charles said this morning starts to make sense.His shutting down.His refusal to talk to me.The room is spinning.I feel faint.

“I’m afraid there’s more.I think you should sit down.”

I will my feet to move, but they won’t.The baby starts crying.Eleanor is too quiet.“I have to get the baby.”

“We arrested your neighbor this morning.”

“My neighbor?”

Phillip’s cries grow in urgency.

“Darcy Branson.She’s being charged as an accessory to the fact.”

My mouth falls open.I swallow hard.“What fact?”

“I know,” he says.“It’s a lot to take in.”

He stands and smooths his coat.“You didn’t notice they had the same last name?”

I shake my head.“I never thought about it, to be honest.I knew Darcy’s last name is Branson, but I’ve never met her husband.”

“Never?”

“No,” I say with a sigh.“I should have put two and two together.”

I find myself saying more than I intend to.I find myself making excuses.I have been so consumed with three children, with trying to be the perfect mother, and a good wife.It left little time for anything else.“We haven’t lived here long,” I add, suddenly feeling very embarrassed—no, not exactly embarrassed,ashamed.How could I let my child go to a woman’s house who I knew nothing about?

“Branson is a fairly common name,” he tells me.If he’s trying to make me feel better, it doesn’t work.

I don’t know what to say.My eyes are glued to the ceiling.I’m focused on Phillip wailing.I can’t look at Officer Sloan anymore than I can force my feet to move.“I have to get the baby.”

“I’ve got him,” Alice calls from the stairs.

“That casserole,” Sloan says.“If it came from where I think it did, I wouldn’t eat it.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Mrs.Branson knew we were closing in on her.”

“I think she called me yesterday and offered me money.”

“Can you tell me about that call?”he asks, and so I do.