Another pause.
Grant’s voice appeared faintly in the background.
“Hang up.”
Dad heard it.
“So Grant’s there too.”
Nobody answered.
Dad took a sip of coffee.
“Excellent. Saves time.”
Vanessa’s tone changed.
The grief vanished.
So did the authority.
Now she sounded irritated.
“Dad, there’s been a misunderstanding.”
He gave a low laugh.
“Those usually happen when somebody gets a date wrong or forgets a dinner reservation.”
He glanced at me.
“Not when they announce a man’s death while he’s eating breakfast.”
Vanessa started speaking quickly.
She said Harold had called.
Then she said she had misunderstood Harold.
Then she said Grant had seen paperwork and assumed something had happened.
The story changed three times in less than a minute.
Dad let her talk.
That was his favorite method when someone was lying.
He did not interrupt.
He let people add details until the truth had nowhere left to hide.
Finally he asked, “Where are you going right now?”
The turn signal was still clicking.
“We’re driving.”
