—Nothing important, Dad. Just Claire making a scene.
Robert looked at her.
Then he looked at Eli.
The red mark on the child’s face was impossible to ignore.
His expression changed.
—Who did that?
—Me —Lisa replied nonchalantly—. The brat was screaming.
The silence was absolute.
Robert paled.
—What did you say?
—I only slapped him.
For the first time, the police chief seemed not to recognize his own daughter.
Then he looked at the grill.
He saw the burned case.
He saw the blackened medal among the embers.
And finally he looked at me.
—Claire… was that your Silver Star?
I nodded.
Murmurs began to circulate around the courtyard.
Lisa rolled her eyes.
—Dad, please. Are you going to continue with that ridiculous story too?
Robert did not respond.
Her hands began to tremble.
—Lisa… did you do this?
—Yes. So what?
Then something happened that no one expected.
The police chief took a step back.
As if he were short of breath.
-My God…
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
