Chapter 9 - The Wrong Signature
The release was three pages long. Mara had signed my name on an agreement allowing Quiet Harbor Media to use footage of our children. She had also listed herself as the sole person authorized to approve edits and payouts.
"I didn't sign any of this," I told Anita.
"We'll document that," she replied. "A signature can be disputed. The bigger question is who obtained and used it."
A temporary family-court order allowed the children to remain in my care on discharge, with Tessa helping at home. Mara would have no unsupervised contact while the child-protection investigation continued. The order wasn't a permanent judgment, and I wasn't interested in celebrating a hearing held because my kids had been hurt.
Tommy was discharged two days later. The nurses gave us instructions for follow-up care and warning signs. I wrote everything down. I also put our pediatrician's number on the refrigerator, beside a drawing Lily made of four little clouds.
On the drive home, Lily asked whether the storage-room door was still there. I told her the police had collected the equipment and I would make sure she never had to go inside against her will.
"What if the lights come back?" she asked.
"Then we'll turn them off."
"Even if Mommy says not to?"
"Even then."
At home, she stood in the living room and listened. Tommy held her hand. I realized both children were waiting for an order to be quiet.
"You can make noise here," I said. "You can ask for food. You can wake me up."
Tommy whispered, "Can I have toast?"
I made three slices and ate one with him at the kitchen table.
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That evening, Detective Valdez called. Investigators had located a payment account connected to the campaign. The name on it wasn't Mara's or Nolan's.
It was mine.
