"I know."
"And he died after leaving this place."
Ray's jaw tightened.
"Yes."
"Because you kept him here."
He looked up sharply.
"No."
It was the first time he pushed back.
"Don't tell me no."
"I didn't keep him here."
"He was exhausted. The weather was bad. He should have been home."
"I tried to make him wait out the rain."
"You expect me to believe that?"
Pain crossed his face.
"There are security records. Rebecca was here. Lena was here until seven. Sarah, I've tried to tell you-"
"I don't want your version."
"It's not a version."
"Stay away from Maisie."
Ray went silent. I took one step back.
"If you actually care about us, stay out of our lives."
For a long moment he simply looked at me. Then he said, "All right, Sarah." He lowered his head.
"But there's something I promised Daniel."
I walked away before he could finish. What I did not see was Michael's pickup parked behind the adjacent building. He had arrived to speak with Ray after learning I had found the drawings. He heard the final part of our argument.
He waited until I left. Then he walked into the shop.
"You need to cancel this birthday thing," he told Ray.
Ray stared at him. "No."
"She just told you to stay away."
"Daniel told me to finish the chair."
"Daniel didn't know what this would do to her."
"Daniel knew his wife better than either of us."
Michael's expression hardened. "You don't know my sister."
"I know you've been lying to her."