He paid the bail without hesitation. The number made Clare’s stomach drop. The fine was worse. Outside, under the harsh glow of streetlights, her head throbbed and her thoughts felt slow, like they were moving through water. Daniel was already talking. “We’ll handle it,” he said briskly. “Lawyers. Statements. We don’t need to make this bigger than it is.”
“I didn’t do anything,” Clare said, exhaustion bleeding into her voice now. “I didn’t take anything. Someone put it there.” Daniel exhaled slowly. Not a sigh of frustration—one of concern, carefully measured. “Clare,” he said, “are you absolutely sure?” She stopped walking. “Sure of what?” “That you didn’t take something,” he said. “Even by accident. Even earlier.