The room froze completely as Aaron’s eyes moved from Claire’s burned cheek to the overturned gravy boat still dripping onto the tablecloth.
“Mrs. Vance,” he said carefully, “did someone assault you?”
David immediately stepped forward. “This is ridiculous. She’s emotional and pregnant.”
Aaron ignored him. “Claire?”
For a second, nobody breathed. Then Claire calmly reached into her pocket, removed the tiny recording device, and placed it on the dining table beside the untouched Easter ham.
Margaret’s face lost color first-
