Chapter 6
The police arrested Evelyn first.
That surprised everyone.
Including Richard.
She had been sloppy.
Old emails.
Private nurse payments.
Messages to Haven Gate.
One line destroyed her.
Charlotte must never see the second child. Richard agrees the defect will ruin the family.
Defect.
My son.
My beautiful son with scraped feet and guarded eyes and the same dimple as Oliver.
Evelyn told investigators Noah had been born “sickly.”
She claimed she saved me from pain.
She claimed Richard only followed medical advice.
Then Detective Harris showed her the payment.
Two million dollars.
She asked for her attorney.
Richard lasted three more days.
Then Haven Gate’s surviving accountant turned over records for immunity.
Richard had signed the transfer documents.
He had approved the false death certificate.
He had received updates for two years on “placement status.”
Then he had stopped paying.
Noah moved from private placement to informal foster arrangements to the street.
That was when I stopped sleeping.
Because my husband had not only stolen my child.
He had abandoned him twice.
Once at birth.
Once when he became inconvenient.
When Richard was arrested, cameras waited outside his office.
I watched the footage once.
He kept his head high.
Of course he did.
Men like Richard think shame is for other people.
Noah watched from the doorway.
“Is he my father?”
I turned off the television.
“Biologically, yes.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means his blood helped make you.”
He thought about that.
“Did yours too?”
“Yes.”
He looked at the blank screen.
“Your blood came looking.”
I could not breathe for a second.
Then he added, “Late.”
I nodded.
“Yes. Late.”
He walked away.
I let him.
May you like
Truth had edges.
He was allowed to hold them.
