Chapter 16 - What Tove Did Before
Marisol's letter was only two pages.
It hurt more than the police file.
She wrote that Mireya had suffered three unexplained breathing attacks while in Tove's care. Each time, her rescue inhaler had been missing or empty.
Marisol had started keeping a log.
She had also installed a small camera in the hallway outside Mireya's room.
The footage showed Tove entering twice after midnight.
Once, she removed medication from the bedside table.
The second time, she stood over Mireya for nearly two minutes while the child slept.
Marisol confronted her privately.
Tove denied everything.
Then Bryce called about the foundation money.
The threats escalated.
Cullen lowered the letter.
"She knew."
Vale nodded.
"She was building a case."
"Why didn't she tell me?"
"Maybe she was trying to protect you. Maybe she didn't know who to trust."
Cullen had been traveling constantly that year. He had accepted Tove's help. He had told Marisol she was exhausted when she said she felt watched.
He remembered the exact sentence.
You're seeing danger everywhere because you're scared.
Now he wanted to tear those words out of history.
Mireya woke and saw his face.
"Daddy?"
He sat beside her.
"I'm okay."
"You're crying."
He did not lie.
"I wish I had listened to Mommy sooner."
Mireya touched his hand.
"Mommy said you loved us even when you didn't understand."
Cullen closed his eyes.
That was Marisol. Even terrified, she had protected him from his own guilt.
A nurse entered with discharge papers.
Vale's phone rang.
He stepped into the hall.
When he returned, his expression was grim.
"Bryce just changed his story."
Cullen stood.
"What?"
"His lawyer arrived. Bryce now says Rourke acted alone and Tove knew nothing about the crash."
"After everything he said?"
"Statements can change. Deals can change people."
Cullen looked toward Mireya.
"What does that mean for Tove?"
Vale answered carefully.
"It means her lawyer is going to attack your daughter."
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And Cullen knew exactly what Tove would call Mireya in court.
A frightened child with an unreliable memory.
