Claire stood over Tristan for what seemed like an eternity.
Thoughts ran through her mind like a tape recorder, replaying the conversations from the past year. She remembered what Cam and Lucy had told her about Tristan’s childhood. She remembered the conversation with the silver-headed woman in the kitchen one morning. Sometimes, God puts you in the path of just one person, and you and that person are changed forever.
Claire looked at the woman lying before her and made the decision that would forever change her life. She picked up the phone and dialed 911. Then, she went through the house and made a few adjustments. She went back to sit at Tristan’s side and waited.
As Tristan awoke, she felt a dull aching pain in her head. She felt nauseated when she tried to turn toward the sounds in the room.
Her right arm felt heavy, and it ached even more so than her head.
As her vision came into focus, she noticed Claire standing next to the bed, then realized she was in a hospital room.
Claire looked down at her and spoke quickly. “When they realize you’re awake, the police will want to question you, so listen very carefully to me, Tristan. If you do not agree to what I have to say, I will tell them the truth, and you will go to jail. Are you with me so far?”
Tristan tried to nod her head, but a sharp pain prevented her from doing so. She tried to speak, but her throat was too dry to utter a word. Claire gave her a sip of water.
“I understand, Claire,” she croaked.
“You probably don’t remember, but I shoved you through the French doors of the sunroom. You suffered a broken arm, a mild concussion, and several deep cuts that required suturing. To avoid you being arrested, I lied to the police. Before they arrived, I punched out one of the windowpanes in the back door to make it look as though someone broke in. I told the officers that a man was in the house when we got home. We both fought with him, 182
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and he knocked you through the doors before escaping. You will need to corroborate this story.”
Tristan lay in silence, listening as Claire spoke.
“Now, here is the part I want you to pay special attention to. I love you, Tristan. I kind of understand why you did what you did, but you need some help. I want you to see a therapist, and I will stand beside you and help anyway I can. Should you fail to honor this, I will go to the police for your sake and mine. So, what I need to know now is, will you agree to this?”
Tears streamed down Tristan’s face. “I will do anything you ask of me, Claire. I swear it.” Tristan’s body trembled with her sobs.
Claire stood close by while Detective Salmetti questioned Tristan. She was surprised that Tristan was able to remember the description she had given her of their attacker so their stories would be the same. Claire was sure to include that the assailant’s description and build did not resemble Mike’s. He had been guilty of many things, but she would not allow him to take the blame for this.
After the detective left, Tristan drifted off to sleep with the aid of pain medication. Claire called Cam and Lucy, and just as she figured, they were adamant about coming to the hospital. Claire met them at the door to Tristan’s room.
“Like I explained on the phone, she is not seriously hurt. They are keeping her for observation because of the concussion, and she will be released first thing in the morning. She’s sleeping right now. Both of you are welcome to go in and see her, but afterward, I would like to speak to you alone.”
Cam and Lucy exchanged glances for a moment, then went into the room. Standing on opposite sides of the bed, they both felt Tristan’s skin, just to assure themselves that she was indeed all right. Claire gave them a rundown of Tristan’s injuries and relayed what the doctor had said. Cam and Lucy visibly relaxed. Once Lucy was confident that Tristan would fully recover, she asked Claire to tell them what happened.
Claire glanced at Cam. “Would you mind staying with Tristan while Lucy accompanies me downstairs to smoke? My nerves are at the breaking point, and I just need to relax a minute before I rehash the events of the evening.”
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Lucy wrapped her arm around Claire and led her out the door.
Claire was comforted by the motherly touch. She wondered how Lucy would feel after she told her that she had been the one who inflicted her adopted daughter with such injuries. They rode in silence down the elevator to the ground floor. Lucy guided Claire over to a bench just outside the emergency room door.
They sat quietly for a few minutes as Claire smoked her cigarette and gathered her thoughts. She could not stop the flow of tears that rained from her eyes. Lucy pulled her close and stroked her back in an attempt to comfort her.
“Lucy, I’m sorry, but I’ve lied to you and Cam. There was no break-in. I shoved Tristan through the French doors. I lied to the police to cover up what really happened.”
Lucy recoiled at the things she heard. “Then what the hell happened?”
Claire looked at her through tear-filled eyes. “Lucy, there is so much to explain. I don’t know where to start.”
“Start from the beginning,” Lucy replied as calmly as she could.
Claire took a deep breath. “When I lived in Houston, I received pictures taken of me by an anonymous photographer. Sometimes, a typed note would accompany them, accusing me of being a slut.
When I was offered the Valor job, I jumped at the chance to leave Houston, hoping that would resolve the problem.
“Not long after I arrived here, the photos started coming again. I confided in Tristan, and we began to suspect Mike and Lauren, the travel agents. When Mike started behaving the way he did, I was convinced it was him. I even reported my suspicions to the police.
“Yesterday, I decided to store those pictures in the room that Tristan keeps under lock and key. I got her key ring and let myself in. I found a lot of very expensive digital camera equipment in there, and among those cameras, I found copies of the exact pictures I had been receiving.”
Lucy shook her head as though she did not comprehend. “What are you saying? That Tristan is a stalker? Claire, that just does not make sense! How can you be saying these things?”
“Because Tristan admitted to it, Lucy! She told me in great detail how she did it. She even photographed us on our first date using a lapel camera. She has some major problems upstairs!”
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Lucy sat in stunned silence. “Oh, my God.” As the truth sank in, she began to cry.
Claire tentatively reached over and patted Lucy on the shoulder.
“Lucy, Tristan needs some help. I told her I would not tell the police anything if she would agree to see a therapist. I’ll stand by her and help her anyway I can. Not having her in my life is something I cannot even fathom. Believe it or not, I truly do love her.
“When she started toward me, I just freaked out, and I shoved her back. I didn’t mean to hurt her. You have to believe I would never do anything like that intentionally. I was just so overwhelmed and shocked.”
Lucy pointed to the pack of cigarettes. “You mind if I have one of those? I need something to calm my nerves before I tell all this to Cam.”
Claire handed her a cigarette and lit it for her. Lucy inhaled the smoke and exhaled slowly with a little cough. She looked at Claire. “So, what are we going to do?”
Claire shrugged. “I think we need a little time apart. I may stay at my apartment for a while until we get things sorted out, the lease is not up yet. I love her so much, but on the same hand, I’m little fearful. There’s a side to her I know nothing about. All those months, a faceless monster terrified me. To suddenly find out that it was the woman I love and have committed myself to is more than shocking. I don’t even know how to cope with all this.”