Chapter 18 - Sarah's Last Visitor
The hospital security image was grainy but clear enough.
Malcolm Pike entered Sarah's room at 10:42 p.m.
He left twenty-three minutes later.
Sarah died before dawn.
Daniel gripped the edge of the dining table.
"Did he hurt her?"
Ruiz answered carefully.
"The medical examiner found pneumonia and complications from untreated illness. There is no evidence she was physically harmed."
"Then why was he there?"
"We asked him."
Everyone waited.
"He says Sarah called Hope House because she knew the children might enter county care. She wanted to make sure they stayed together."
Ethan's stomach turned.
"He lied to her."
Ruiz nodded.
"According to a nurse, Pike promised the children would be placed in a private family program. Instead, he put them in Hope House."
Lily's eyes filled.
"Why?"
Thomas answered before Ruiz could.
"Because Victor needed you where he could find you."
Ruiz placed another document on the table.
"Sarah also signed a sealed statement that night. Pike was supposed to deliver it to county investigators. He never did. We found it in a storage unit rented under his name."
The statement detailed the trust fraud, Daniel's framing, and Victor's threats.
At the bottom, Sarah had added a handwritten line.
Please tell my children their father did not leave them.
Daniel covered his face.
Ethan walked outside.
He stood beneath the stone lions while snow melted from the roof in slow drops.
Daniel joined him a few minutes later.
"You don't have to forgive me fast," Daniel said.
Ethan stared at the road.
"For what?"
"For not finding a way out. For not getting back to you."
"You were in prison."
"I'm still your dad."
Ethan finally looked at him.
"I was the dad."
Daniel's eyes filled.
Ethan hated how true it sounded.
"I made Noah eat. I got Lily to school. I lied when Mom couldn't pay rent. I told them everything was fine when nothing was fine."
Daniel nodded slowly.
"You carried something no kid should carry."
"Someone had to."
"Not anymore."
Ethan looked toward the mansion.
Through the glass, Lily was showing Sophie how to hide dinner rolls in both pockets at once. Noah was laughing while Maria pretended not to notice.
For the first time in months, Ethan did not know what emergency came next.
That scared him almost as much as hunger had.
Daniel touched his shoulder.
"You can be ten now."
Ethan's mouth twisted.
"I don't remember how."
Daniel squeezed his shoulder.
"Then we'll learn together."
Behind them, Margaret opened the front door.
"Ethan? Daniel? There is someone here to see you."
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On the steps stood a county social worker holding a thick folder.
And Ethan immediately knew the fight for their family was not over yet.
