“Did Jake kill her?”
“We don't know,” Maya said.
Sophie touched the bruise near her eye.
“Yes, you do.”
Nobody answered.
At two that afternoon, Caroline called.
Not Sophie.
Me.
I stared at the unknown number until Alex said, “Answer.”
I put it on speaker.
Caroline's voice was astonishingly calm.
“Evelyn.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“She belongs with her husband.”
“She belongs wherever she chooses.”
Caroline laughed softly.
“Still controlling everything, I see.”
“You assaulted my daughter.”
“I disciplined an unstable young woman who became hysterical.”
Alex's expression did not move.
Caroline continued.
“Sophie attacked us. We defended ourselves.”
“Seven women defended themselves against one bride?”
“She signed documents voluntarily.”
I looked at Sophie.
She shook her head.
“No, she didn't.”
“You weren't there.”
“I saw her injuries.”
A pause.
Then Caroline's voice changed.
“Put Alex on.”
Nobody breathed.
I looked at him.
He nodded.
“He's listening.”
Silence.
Then Caroline said, “Hello, Boss.”
