Chapter 8
I called Detective Ramirez before I called Elise.
He came to the restaurant before sunrise.
Thomas sat beside me, pale but steady.
Nick and Teresa stayed in the back office with Renee.
The photo had been taken from across the street.
Not by Daniel.
He had been out of town that day.
Marissa maybe.
Or someone else.
Ramirez traced the message to a prepaid phone.
Purchased near the building where Marissa rented office space.
We got a warrant for her storage unit after the accountant found payments.
Inside were restaurant plans, fake invoices, business cards for the rival restaurant, and a locked file box.
The box held more than business theft.
It held custody papers.
For Thomas.
Prepared by Daniel’s attorney.
Claiming I was neglectful.
Unstable.
Too consumed by work.
There were photos of Thomas eating alone at the restaurant.
Photos of him sitting with Nick.
Photos cropped to make Nick look dangerous.
My stomach twisted.
They planned to use Nick against me.
The boy who saved my son was going to be painted as proof I endangered him.
Elise looked sick.
“Valerie.”
“There’s more.”
At the bottom of the box was a folder labeled T.R.
Thomas Reese.
Inside were life insurance policies.
One recently increased.
Beneficiary: Daniel.
I could barely breathe.
Ramirez took the file.
Then he looked at me carefully.
“Has Thomas had any accidents lately?”
My skin went cold.
“He fell down the stairs last month.”
Thomas whispered, “Dad was behind me.”
The room disappeared.
I turned to my son.
“What?”
May you like
His voice was tiny.
“He said I tripped.”
