Chapter 4
Khloe’s son was born at 6:42 p.m.
Too early.
Too small.
Alive.
The nurse said his cry was strong.
I cried then.
Not one tear.
All of it.
The kind of crying that makes no sound because the body does not know how to survive relief.
Khloe was still unconscious.
The baby was taken to the NICU.
I stood outside the glass and looked at my nephew.
Tiny fists.
Tubes.
A little knit cap.
A warrior who weighed less than a bag of flour.
“What’s his name?” the nurse asked.
“Elliot,” I said.
Khloe had told me months ago.
If it’s a boy, Harry, I want Elliot. Don’t tell Richard yet. He’ll try to make it sound expensive.
I pressed my hand against the glass.
“Hey, Elliot,” I whispered. “I’m your uncle. I’m unpleasant in court, but excellent at keeping promises.”
My aunt Avery arrived beside me.
Her silver hair was pinned back.
Her eyes were wet.
Then they hardened.
“Show me.”
I handed her the still image.
She looked once.
“That woman pushed her.”
“Yes.”
“And Richard did not move.”
“No.”
Avery looked toward the hallway.
“Where is he?”
“Not here.”
Her mouth tightened.
Maya arrived twenty minutes later carrying a laptop.
She had footage from three angles.
Courthouse steps.
Lobby camera through glass.
A tourist’s phone video.
In all three, Vanessa stepped forward and shoved Khloe.
No slip.
No stumble.
No accident.
Richard reached toward Vanessa afterward.
Not Khloe.
Vanessa.
Avery watched without blinking.
Then she said, “We file tonight.”
“Criminal?”
“Everything.”
My phone rang.
Richard.
I answered on speaker.
“Harrison,” he said. “I just heard the baby came early.”
“You heard?”
“I was advised to give space.”
“Your wife almost died.”
“My wife attacked my girlfriend in public.”
Avery’s face went cold.
Maya started recording.
Richard continued.
“Khloe has been unstable for months. If you protect her from consequences, you are enabling her.”
I closed my eyes.
There was the second trap.
Paint the victim unstable.
Take the baby.
Protect the money.
“You should come say that in person,” I said.
“I’m not stupid.”
“No,” I said. “You’re recorded.”
He went silent.
Then he hung up.
May you like
Avery smiled without warmth.
“Thank you, Richard.”
