Chapter 6
Andrew forced himself to continue.
I have been told you asked that Andrew not be contacted. I will honor that until you are stronger, though it breaks my heart.
Please know your brother has never stopped looking for you.
He believes you are dead.
I cannot decide whether telling him otherwise would help you or destroy him.
Thomas says I must trust the professionals.
I am trying.
Forgive me if I am choosing wrongly.
Love always,
Mom.
Andrew lowered the letter.
Daniel stared at the floor.
“She didn’t abandon me.”
“No,” Andrew said.
Daniel’s face folded with quiet grief.
“She thought she was protecting me.”
Andrew nodded.
“And you.”
The brothers sat with that.
Their mother had made a terrible choice.
But not a cruel one.
She had made it while frightened, misinformed, grieving, and trusting documents that seemed official.
For years, both sons had imagined motives darker than the truth.
Daniel had believed Andrew discarded him.
Andrew had believed Daniel died alone.
Both had been wrong.
Margaret looked at Julian.
“And Rachel?”
Julian’s shame deepened.
“When she came to me with the audit records, I panicked.”
“You asked her to sign a false statement.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“I wanted time.”
Rachel shook her head.
“You wanted the problem to disappear.”
“Yes.”
At least he did not defend it.
“I told Rachel Daniel had been transferred here for evaluation. She insisted on seeing him. Once Daniel became agitated during the move, she agreed to stay for a few days.”
“You told people she left voluntarily,” Detective Soto said.
Julian nodded.
“I sent messages from a phone she had left in my car.”
Rachel looked at him.
“You knew Ivy was waiting for me.”
“I thought she was with your sister.”
“I told you she was with Mrs. Elellanar.”
Julian closed his eyes.
“I wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“No,” Rachel said. “You were thinking about your family’s name.”
That was the sharpest thing she said.
Then she added, “I understand loving your family. But loving them does not mean protecting every decision they ever made.”
Julian looked at his mother.
Margaret’s eyes filled.
May you like
“That is something your father never understood.”
Detective Soto explained that Julian would still have to cooperate with the investigation into forged messages and improper pressure related to Rachel’s employment records.
