Chapter 10
The divorce filing became public.
The restaurant filled with reporters for three days until Luis started charging them for coffee and refusing interviews.
I loved him for that.
Marissa’s blog vanished.
Then reappeared with an apology written by lawyers.
Nobody believed it.
Daniel’s family called.
His mother cried.
His father threatened.
His sister, Elaine, asked to meet me alone.
I almost refused.
Then Thomas said, “Aunt Elaine was nice when Dad wasn’t home.”
So I agreed.
Elaine came to the restaurant after closing.
She looked nervous.
“I brought something.”
She placed a thumb drive on the table.
“My parents told me Daniel was just strict. But I saw him with Thomas once. I didn’t stop it.”
Her voice broke.
“I’m sorry.”
I did not comfort her.
She understood.
“The drive has messages from Daniel to our father. They discussed making you look unfit.”
My stomach clenched.
“Your father knew?”
She nodded.
“He said men lose sons when mothers get too much power.”
I nearly laughed.
Instead, I played the files.
Daniel’s father, Richard, had advised him to build a record.
Photos.
School absences.
Restaurant nights.
Nick.
Anything to make me look neglectful.
Then one message changed everything.
Richard wrote:
If the boy becomes a problem, remember what we did with your brother.
I looked at Elaine.
She had gone white.
“What brother?”
May you like
She whispered, “Daniel had an older brother. Caleb. He died when they were kids.”
Ramirez opened a cold case before midnight.
