Chapter 4 - The Man from Hope House
Pike recovered quickly.
"There you are."
He opened his arms as if expecting the children to run into them.
None of them moved.
"We've been worried sick."
Ethan laughed once.
It was not a happy sound.
"You noticed?"
Pike's eyes sharpened, but his voice stayed warm.
"Ethan has been under terrible stress since losing his mother. He becomes confused. Defensive. Sometimes dishonest."
Margaret stood in the doorway.
"Then you won't mind answering a few questions."
"Of course not. But first, the children need to return to the facility. We have procedures."
"Tonight, they need a doctor."
Pike looked past her and saw Noah wrapped in a blanket beside the fire.
"He's dramatic when he's tired."
Margaret's expression changed.
Thomas took one slow step forward.
"He's five."
Pike sighed as though dealing with unreasonable adults.
"Mrs. Caldwell, I respect your compassion, but these children are wards of the county. Wealthy people sometimes see a sad face and assume the system has failed. It is more complicated than that."
"Is starvation complicated?" Lily asked.
Pike looked at her.
For a heartbeat, the kindness vanished from his face.
Lily shrank behind Ethan.
Margaret saw it.
So did Maria, the housekeeper.
"Show me your pantry," Margaret said.
Pike blinked. "Excuse me?"
"Tomorrow morning. I want to see where they sleep, what they eat, their medical records, and every report filed since they arrived."
"That's impossible without county approval."
"Then we will get county approval."
Pike's gaze slid toward Ethan's closed fist.
"The boy appears to be holding property that belongs to Hope House."
Ethan shoved the brass key into his pocket.
"My mother gave it to me."
"Your mother was not in a stable condition when she died."
Ethan lunged before he knew he was moving.
Thomas caught him around the chest.
"Easy. Easy."
"Don't talk about her!"
Pike's soft smile returned.
"You see what I mean."
Margaret's voice cut through the room.
"I see a child defending his dead mother."
Headlights flashed beyond the gate.
A police sedan stopped behind Pike's SUV.
Detective Ana Ruiz stepped out with a county child-welfare supervisor.
Pike's jaw tightened.
For the first time, Ethan felt something close to hope.
Then Pike leaned toward him while everyone turned to the arriving officers.
His voice was almost too low to hear.
"You should have left the key where I told you."
Ethan stared at him.
Pike smiled for the room again.
And Ethan suddenly understood something terrifying.
May you like
Pike did not just want the children back.
He wanted whatever that key opened.
