Chapter 9 - A GRANDMOTHER DOESN'T NEGOTIATE WITH FEAR
"Give them what they want," Rosa pleaded. "We can't lose Julian too."
Every part of me wanted to obey. I had already buried my husband. I could not bear a second funeral, especially for a child whose bedroom I still knew by heart.
But Quinn shook her head. "They want you frightened enough to stop thinking. Let us handle contact."
I asked for a moment alone. Then I went to Maya's room, where she was arranging stuffed animals at a pretend tea party.
"Grandma, you're the dragon," she said.
"Am I?"
"A nice dragon. You keep the bad ones out."
I sat beside her and accepted a plastic cup. My hand trembled so much she noticed.
"Dragons scared?"
"Sometimes," I admitted.
She considered this. "You can be scared with me."
I held that sentence closer than any award I'd ever received.
Back downstairs, I authorized Naomi to share the records with the authorities and asked Quinn to arrange a controlled response through investigators. I would not trade evidence blindly and put Julian or Maya in greater danger.
Quinn traced the photograph to a coastal rehabilitation property leased through one of Mercer's companies. The property was registered under a false business name, but utility records showed unusual activity.
"We need more than a photograph for a warrant," she said. "We're building it."
At midnight my private number rang. Vanessa's voice floated out, sweet as poisoned honey.
"Evelyn, you could end all this by admitting you're not fit to run the family."
"Where is my son?"
"You're asking the wrong question."
"Then educate me."
May you like
She laughed softly.
"Ask Gideon why your husband changed his will the week before he died."
