The Day Silence Spoke novel Chapter 235

But who else would have a motive?

Wallace’s mind raced, running through a list of potential suspects. Besides Clifford, the only other person who came to mind was… Yolanda’s husband.

“Aren’t I what?” Clifford prompted.

“Nothing.”

Latisha watched Clifford. Unlike Wallace, who was clearly troubled, he seemed perfectly calm—as if he were nothing more than a spectator. Then again, he and Yolanda had never been close, and they weren’t blood siblings. It was just like him not to feel any grief, even if she were truly dead.

At that thought, Latisha’s spirits sank. A man like him probably wouldn’t feel sad about anyone’s death.

When Polly collided headfirst into a tree, Clifford hadn’t spared her a second glance. He treated Wallace with utter indifference. If she were to die one day, would he treat her the same way he’d treated Polly, not even bothering to look back?

The silence in the car was so thick you could hear a pin drop, broken only by Wallace’s occasional, heavy sighs. He must have already accepted that it was Yolanda. Otherwise, why would he be so distraught?

...

Two hours later, they arrived back at the Lambert family estate. Everyone was there—Renata, Polly, and even Santino, who wore a grim expression. He had clearly figured something out, but at this point, his suspicions were useless.

“Dad.” Renata shot to her feet, her nervousness plain to see. Among everyone present, she was the most tense, a reaction that seemed strangely disproportionate to her relationship with Yolanda. Even Wallace gave her a second look.

“What happened, Dad? Was it Yolanda?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Wallace remained silent, his face a mask of stone.

The family waited. It wasn't long before Wallace’s phone rang around eleven o’clock. He was being asked to formally identify the body.

Renata made an excuse about needing to stay home with the baby. Polly, claiming the whole affair was bad luck, said she had a headache and also stayed behind. That left four of them to go. Santino drove, with Wallace in the passenger seat and Latisha and Clifford in the back.

They arrived at the police station morgue. Even before they entered, they could hear crying from inside.

The cold, sterile air made Latisha’s skin crawl, and she found it hard to breathe. Knowing that Yolanda had been burned to death, she could all too easily imagine what she must look like now.

At the doorway, Latisha saw a group of people inside. The only one she recognized was Reuben Vaughn, Yolanda’s husband.