Chapter 15 - What Vincent Knew

Vincent met with investigators through separate counsel. What he said wasn't a verdict; it was the beginning of a trail they could test. He admitted diverting foundation money through false vendors and said Evelyn had directed him to conceal the transfers. He also claimed that Calvin had threatened Nora, but insisted he didn't know where she was.

About Father's accident, he hesitated. “I didn't touch the car,” he said. “I heard an argument the day before. Evelyn told Calvin that Thomas couldn't be allowed to take the files to the board.”

Detective Vega asked what he'd understood that to mean.

“I didn't ask. I wanted to keep my job.”

I listened to a summary later and felt sick. The men around Mother hadn't all been monsters. Some had simply found it profitable not to ask questions. I'd done my own smaller version of the same thing whenever Grace told me she was afraid.

That evening, Grace developed contractions that worried the medical team. The monitors changed tone. Nurses moved around her bed with brisk, practiced calm. Dr. Patel came in, checked the tracing, and explained the plan to reduce risk and watch closely.

Between updates, I thought about what we'd expected pregnancy to be. Grace had bookmarked pictures of a yellow nursery. I had spent a ridiculous Saturday assembling a crib and discovering two screws left over. We laughed about my lack of practical skills and made a list of things to do before the baby arrived. None of those plans included police interviews or operating rooms. The nursery waited at home, painted the color of morning, while its future occupant fought to stay safe.

Grace reached for me. “If something happens—”

“Don't.”

“Listen. If she's early, I need you to tell her I wanted her. Every day. Even before I knew her face.”

I rested my forehead against hers. “You're going to tell her yourself.”

She managed a faint smile. “That's not how promises work, Ethan.”

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I stayed while the team cared for her. Outside the room, my phone rang. Detective Vega's name lit up.

“We found Calvin,” she said. “He says Nora is alive. But he's asking for a deal before he'll tell us where.”