Chapter 7 - A Fisherman Found Them Alive

It took almost forty minutes to reach the cove.
By then Claire’s hands were scraped raw.
Lily’s dress was dirty.
Both were shaking.
Claire screamed for help until her voice nearly disappeared.
Then a fishing boat rounded the rocks.
An older fisherman saw them.
Cut the engine.
Radioed for rescue.
When they were finally brought aboard, Claire refused to release Lily until a medic physically reassured her that the little girl was safe.
At the marina, police asked what happened.
Claire told them.
Vanessa.
The shove.
Daniel.
The smile.
Then Lily, wrapped in a blanket, whispered:
“Daddy knew.”
The officer looked down at her.
“What do you mean?”
Lily sniffled.
“Yesterday he told Vanessa tomorrow the problem goes away.”
Claire looked at her daughter sharply.
“What problem?”
Lily shook her head.
“I don’t know.”
Then she added:
“Vanessa asked about me.”
Claire felt cold.
“What did Daddy say?”
Lily’s lower lip trembled.
“He said, ‘No loose ends.’”
The detective stopped writing for half a second.
Then continued.
May you like
Very carefully.
---