Chapter 4 - BEN STOOD BESIDE HIS SISTERPolice separated the family.
A female officer sat with Ava and Ben in the library.
Another officer interviewed Clarissa in the drawing room.
Mason remained in the entrance hall.
He did not move the scissors or severed hair.
Every object was photographed exactly where it rested.
Ava’s cut was measured.
The lower half of the right ponytail had been removed approximately four inches beneath the white ribbon.
The cut edge showed two separate compression lines.
Two forceful snips.
Ben watched the officer place the severed blonde lock inside an evidence envelope.
“Will Ava get it back?”
“Eventually.”
“Why does she need it?”
“It belongs to her.”
Ava touched her uneven right ponytail.
“Can you put it back?”
The officer’s expression softened.
“No, sweetheart.”
Ava began crying again.
Ben moved beside her.
Clarissa’s attorney arrived before the interviews ended.
She immediately accused Mason of domestic assault.
Mason repeated what he had already told police.
“I struck her once.”
“Because you believed an unverified accusation from children?”
“Because I saw the scissors, the hair and their fear.”
“That does not justify violence.”
“No.”
Clarissa’s attorney had expected a defense.
Mason gave none.
The officer documented the red mark on Clarissa’s cheek.
She did not require medical treatment.
Still, Mason could face an assault charge.
He accepted that.
Clarissa overheard.
“You think honesty makes you noble?”
“No.”
Mason looked toward the library.
“It makes me accountable.”
Clarissa pointed at Ben.
“He is the dangerous one.”
The child moved behind the officer.
Mason’s expression hardened.
“You are not speaking to him.”
“He cut her hair.”
“The scissors were behind your back.”
“I took them away.”
“Why was the hair beside your foot?”
“It fell there.”
“Why did Ava say you did it?”
“Because Ben frightened her.”
Mason looked at his son.
Ben’s face carried not aggression, but terror.
The boy had positioned himself between Clarissa and Ava before Mason entered.
That protective stance did not fit her accusation.
The police collected Clarissa’s phone.
Its recent files contained photographs of Ava taken minutes before the haircut.
Both ponytails were still long.
Another photograph was taken immediately afterward.
Ava’s right ponytail was shorter.
Clarissa claimed she documented Ben’s damage.
The time between the photographs was forty-seven seconds.
During those seconds, a deleted audio file had been created.
Technicians would attempt recovery.
A temporary order required Clarissa to leave the mansion for the night.
Mason could remain only after agreeing to appear in court regarding the slap.
Clarissa collected a coat.
As she passed Ava, she whispered:
“Tell them the truth before your brother disappears.”
Ava froze.
Ben moved in front of her again.
The officer heard the threat.
Clarissa’s attorney pulled her away.
When the doors closed, Ava looked up at Mason.
“She wants Ben gone.”
“What do you mean?”
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Ava touched her cut ponytail.
“She said this would prove he was dangerous.”
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