Free The Comfort of Black by Carter Wilson

a hand up. “Bad intelligence on my part. Ms.
Parks
.”
    That’s purposeful, Hannah thought. He’s telling me Dallin owns me. This is about Dallin.
    â€œI want to know everyone with whom you discussed your recent altercation with Mr. Leighton,” he said. “I assume your sister is one of them, which is why I feel comfortable bringing this up in front of her. Have you called anyone?”
    Hannah only said, “What altercation?”
    â€œI believe you know to what I’m referring. Do I need to specify it?”
    â€œYes,” Justine said. “Tell us what he did. I want to hear you
specify
it.”
    Peter didn’t seem the least bit bothered to comply. “Very well, two hours ago, give or take, Mr. Leighton slammed Ms. Parks against a wall, squeezed her throat, and made threatening remarks before releasing her and walking away.” He looked at Hannah’s neck and, for the first time, a small crack of emotion—
was it pity?
—appeared on his face. “The marks on your throat are consistent with that story.”
    â€œSo you admit it?” Justine interjected. “He admits it? That he tried to kill her?”
    The pity disappeared as Peter set his face blank once more, as if willing himself back into his dispassionate corporate role. “I can’t opine if he tried to kill her,” he said. “My professional opinion is if that was his intent she would be very much dead by now. Nonetheless, he told me the events as described, so he certainly acknowledges assaulting and threatening Ms. Parks.”
    â€œSo I assume you’re going to the police, then?” Justine asked.
    Peter seemed both genuinely surprised by her question andoblivious to the sarcasm Hannah detected. “No, Ms. Parks. That would be contrary to the primary objective of my position. I would never go to the police with this, and if confronted by them, I would deny everything I’ve said here. I’m quite good at denying.” Peter pulled a small piece of lint off his jacket sleeve and let it drift to the floor. “My job is to find a reasonable solution.”
    Justine said, “How the hell are you supposed to find a solution that makes her happy? Her husband is a
monster
.”
    â€œI admit I’m not always able to solve a problem to everyone’s satisfaction. Nonetheless, there is a problem that needs solving. So I’ll ask you again: aside from your sister, who else knows about your altercation?”
    â€œFirst, it’s none of your business,” Hannah said. “Second, your
boss
nearly strangled me. Doesn’t that concern you?”
    â€œIt does, indeed. Which is why I mobilized so quickly.”
    â€œSo he called you right after this happened? I left him watching the news, then his first thought was to call his Risk Management manager?”
    â€œApparently, yes.”
    Hannah felt like screaming at the insanity of it all. “How did you even find us here?” she asked. “I didn’t tell anyone where I was going.”
    â€œAgain, that’s part of my job.”
    Hannah felt a tapping on her arm.
    â€œHannah, let’s go.”
    Peter kept on. “You went to your therapist the day before yesterday. Dr. Britel. Clearly, the incident hadn’t happened yet, but perhaps you were having some other concerns about Mr. Leighton of late. What did you tell her?”
    â€œI’m not telling
you
. Now leave us alone.”
    â€œAny other friends? Family? I believe your only living parent is your father, is that correct?”
    More poking. “Hannah, let’s
go
.”
    Peter said, “Two nights ago, you had intercourse with Mr. Leighton. You are in discussions with him—
trying
—to conceivea child. I realize this is very recent, but do you have any reason to believe you are, or could be, pregnant?”
    Heat flashed through Hannah as she leaned across the table. “He told you about