“Charlotte?”
His voice carried panic.
“Where are you?”
“At the hospital.”
“I know that. I mean—are you alone?”
“Why?”
He exhaled sharply.
“I need to see you.”
“Did Garrett send you?”
“No.”
“Did Mom?”
“No.”
“Then tell me what you want.”
Silence.
In the background, I heard the low rumble of a car engine.
“I can’t say this over the phone.”
“You’ll have to.”
“Charlotte, please.”
The last time Daniel had said please to me, he was nineteen and asking me not to tell our father he had dropped a university course.
He sounded almost that young now.
“Did you use my signature?” I asked.
The engine noise disappeared. Perhaps he had turned off the car.
“Who told you that?”
“Answer me.”
“I didn’t forge anything.”
“That isn’t what I asked.”
His breathing changed.
“I used your login once.”
The confession entered the room quietly.
