Chapter 15 - CHRISTMAS DINNER

On Christmas evening, Shawn refused to let crime take the entire holiday.

He rented a private room at the hotel restaurant.

Maria insisted on wearing the same purple cardigan she had worn in the basement.

“Why?” Shawn asked gently.

“So I remember I got out.”

Don wore a borrowed red tie and complained that it made him look like a politician.

For the first time in twelve years, Shawn ate Christmas dinner with them.

There were empty chairs.

One belonged to Brenda.

No one mentioned it for almost an hour.

Then Maria did.

“I still love her.”

Shawn looked down.

Don sighed.

“So do I.”

“How?” Shawn asked.

Maria’s eyes filled.

“Love doesn’t stop because someone becomes terrible. Trust does.”

Shawn nodded slowly.

That distinction mattered.

After dinner, Don gave Shawn a small wrapped package.

Inside was the missing button from his old gray sweater.

Shawn laughed.

“You kept this?”

“Your mother keeps everything.”

Maria protested. “Not everything.”

Don raised an eyebrow. “There’s a drawer full of twist ties from 1998.”

They laughed again.

Then Don became serious.

“You remember what I told you when you left home?”

Shawn did.

“You don’t have to become rich. Just become a man you can live with.”

Don nodded.

“You did all right.”

Shawn’s throat tightened.

“I wasn’t here.”

“You are now.”

His phone rang.

Ortiz.

“We found Denise Holloway.”

“Where?”

“At Hawthorne Care.”

Shawn stood.

“Why was she there?”

A pause.

“Destroying records.”

“Did you stop her?”

“Yes. But we found something else.”

“What?”

“Four rooms with locks on the outside.”

Shawn’s stomach turned.

“And medication logs for at least nine elderly people.”

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The scheme had not begun with his parents.

They were simply the latest victims.