Chapter 7 - The Yellow UmbrellaNina spent the morning arranging extra protection for her family, then did what threats were meant to prevent: she dug deeper.

She called the old community shelter, a brick building between a laundromat and a boarded-up movie theater. The shelter director, Helen Price, answered on the third ring.

“Did a woman named Mara Parker visit you?” Nina asked.

A long silence. “Is she alive?”

“In intensive care.”

Helen's breath caught. “Then I'm too late.”

“Tell me what you know.”

“Mara was bringing evidence about unsafe housing and the Riverside fire. We were supposed to meet at the bus stop. I carry a yellow umbrella so folks can spot me.”

“What happened?”

“She called from a borrowed phone. Said a pickup was following her. Then the line died.”

Helen sent over the shelter camera footage. It showed Mara at the bus stop, holding a black portable drive in one hand, a diaper bag over her shoulder. A pickup slowed in the lane. Glenn Rusk climbed out. Mara backed away and ran toward the corner, where the camera lost her.

Nina leaned closer. “She doesn't have the drive when she comes back into frame.”

Helen watched twice. “She passed the laundromat first. Maybe she hid it.”

Meanwhile, Andrea helped Ellie visit Noah's incubator. The boy stretched one tiny hand, and Ellie pressed her fingertip to the clear wall.

“Hey, buddy,” she whispered. “I told you I'd get us somewhere warm.”

“Your brother heard you,” Andrea said.

Ellie's eyes filled. “Can Rosie hear me too?”

“We can go see her next.”

In Rose's room, the monitors were steadier than the night before. Dr. Bennett explained in plain words that Rose was responding to treatment and would need more time. Ellie counted the baby's breaths as though counting could keep them coming.

“You can sleep now,” Andrea said.

“If I do, who watches them?”

“We do. All night.”

Ellie finally lay down, but minutes later she sat bolt upright.

“Miss Andrea? The black thing wasn't in the basement. Mama put it where we hid from the rain.”

“Where was that?”

“The yellow room,” Ellie said. “The place with all the washing machines.”

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