Page 9 of Abandoned

“It’s none of your business.”

“You made it my business when you yelled so loud others could hear.” Zara looked past him and spotted a woman sitting at a little dining table across the living room.

The man stepped outside. “Look. I didn’t do nothing. We were just arguing. Everyone fights.”

Will said, “That may be true, but we need to talk and make sure everything is all right.”

The man moved to where Will indicated at the end of the porch.

Zara stepped to the threshold and caught the woman’s gaze. “May I come in and talk to you?”

The woman nodded.

Zara crossed the cluttered living room. The woman’s eyes were swollen and red. “I’m Zara. What’s your name?”

“Miley.” She swiped at her nose with a napkin.

“Tell me what happened.”

“Just a little spat. Nothing new. People fight all the time. We’re fine, really. No need to fuss.”

Zara sat. “Your right cheek indicates it was more than an argument. Walk me through the whole thing.”

“Brett got home late, so his dinner was cold. I guess I didn’t heat it up enough. He must have been irritated about something at work. He’s in one of his moods.”

Zara got that. Her dad had been one to have volatile moods too. But didn’t everyone?

“We started yelling. That’s all.”

“What about your cheek?”

“Oh … I … I ran into the cabinet door. It was open, and … I turned around quickly. I’m fine.”

Zara had heard the same choppy excuse from her mom on many occasions. “Tell me the truth.”

“Honest to God.”

“Yes, honest. The cabinet is not the truth.”

Miley looked at the floor.

“Can I get you some ice? It’s swelling.”

“I guess.”

Zara stood and spotted a folded tea towel on the counter. “Is this clean?”

Miley nodded.

Zara grabbed it and filled it with ice from the freezer’s ice maker. After twisting it together, she handed it to Miley. “Talk to me. I can’t help you if you won’t be honest with me.”

Miley pressed the ice to her swollen cheek. “He didn’t mean to. I shouldn’t have pressed him to talk to me about work. He was right—it’s not my business.”

Getting closer to the truth. “Where were you both when he struck you?” That was a little more leading than she wanted, but they were getting nowhere.

“In the kitchen.”

“Has he struck you before?”