Chapter 11 - A Message Never DeliveredNina stood outside the ICU listening to Ortiz's final voicemail greeting. He'd been fifty-four, a decorated firefighter, and the first person to question the Riverside timeline.
His crash report described rain, a rural curve, and a collision with a delivery truck. A tragic accident, the report concluded. Nina couldn't assume otherwise. She requested the underlying photographs and vehicle data anyway.
Inside the ICU, Mara looked toward the window. “I didn't mean to put the children in danger.”
“You didn't install that vent,” Nina said.
“I should've left before it happened.”
“Do you have somewhere you could have gone?”
Mara gave a bitter little laugh. “With three kids and seventeen dollars? Victor controlled the lease. He told every landlord in town I destroyed property.”
“What was on the missing drive?”
“Copies of payment records. Photos from Riverside. A video Aaron took of the exit chains. I put them in a black case.”
“Glenn took a case from the laundromat.”
Mara shut her eyes. “Then he has everything.”
“Maybe not,” Nina said. “We found your notebook.”
Mara opened her eyes. “The red one?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Aaron taught me to keep copies.”
Nina leaned forward. “Where's the second copy?”
Mara tried to answer, then stopped. “I don't know. I can't remember.”
Across the hall, Ellie sat with Ruth and decorated a get-well card for Rose. She drew three beds, three smiling faces, and a big red heart.
“Grandma Ruth?”
“Yes, baby?”
“Is Mama mad I left her?”
Ruth put down the markers. “Your mama would be proud you got help.”
“But I told her I would stay.”
“Sometimes keeping somebody safe means asking other people to help.”
Ellie thought about that. “Daddy said brave doesn't mean you're not scared.”
“He did. He used to say it to me, too.”
That evening, hospital security intercepted a delivery addressed to Mara. There was no sender's name. Inside sat a small pink baby shoe and a note.
May you like
YOU CAN HAVE YOUR FAMILY BACK IF YOU FORGET THE FIRE.
Related Stories
