Chapter 6
The number disappeared when Sarah tried to call it.
Blocked.
Untraceable at first glance.
But the photo was real.
Dad knew immediately.
“That diary was lost after Rebecca died.”
He sat beside my bed, holding the printed image with shaking hands.
I had never seen him look that old.
“Where was it kept?” Sarah asked.
“In our apartment. After the crash, everything was boxed by police. Half of it vanished.”
Judge Reed studied the photo.
“That handwriting is Rebecca’s.”
My throat tightened.
“What does the open page say?”
Sarah enlarged the image.
Only a few lines were visible.
If Harrison’s brother finds out what I copied, Thomas and Emily are not safe.
Harrison’s brother.
I looked up.
“Marcus has an uncle?”
Dad nodded slowly.
“Victor Vance.”
Judge Reed’s mouth tightened.
“He was the dangerous one.”
Harrison, sitting under guard, whispered, “Victor is dead.”
Dad looked at him.
“You always were a bad liar.”
Detective Ellis leaned in.
“Where is Victor?”
Harrison said nothing.
Sarah’s phone rang.
She answered, listened, and went pale.
“What?” I asked.
She covered the receiver.
“Someone just filed an emergency petition for temporary custody of Lily.”
My body went numb.
“Who?”
Sarah swallowed.
“Patricia Vance. Marcus’s mother.”
The room spun.
My mother-in-law had not been in the hospital room.
I thought that meant she was not involved.
I was wrong.
Sarah continued.
“She claims you are violent, unstable, and under investigation for harming your own child.”
I reached for Lily’s empty blanket.
Dad stood.
“Where is Patricia?”
Detective Ellis checked her phone.
“At the courthouse.”
May you like
Judge Reed’s face hardened.
“Then so are we.”
