Chapter 4 - THE PRICE OF SILENCE
Eleanor Callahan was eating breakfast when Vance walked into her townhouse.
“You look terrible.”
“You offered Maddie fifty thousand dollars.”
His mother set down her cup.
“She showed you that?”
“You knew.”
“I knew she was making allegations.”
“She was pregnant with my children.”
“You have not established that.”
Vance laid the ultrasound letter beside her plate.
“The dates match our treatment.”
Eleanor glanced at it.
“Maddie had a way of making every crisis your responsibility.”
“She was carrying twins.”
“And you were closing a funding round that kept hundreds of people employed.”
He stared at her.
“You hear yourself, don’t you?”
Her mouth tightened.
“Careful.”
“No. You don’t get to say that anymore.”
Lila came through the dining room door.
Vance turned.
“What are you doing here?”
Eleanor answered.
“We thought you should hear this calmly.”
Lila placed a folder on the table.
Screenshots.
Old messages.
Maddie telling a friend she felt broken.
Maddie admitting she couldn’t stop crying.
Private pain arranged to look like evidence.
“Where did you get these?”
“She sent them from a company tablet,” Lila said.
“You searched her messages?”
“You were worried about her.”
“I never asked you to do this.”
Eleanor leaned back.
“We protected you from a situation you wanted to escape.”
Vance pushed the folder away.
“You protected yourselves from a woman who might need something.”
“You’re being emotional.”
“For once.”
His phone rang.
Grant.
Vance answered immediately.
“Tell your people to back off,” Grant said.
“What people?”
“Two men outside Maddie’s daycare. Asking who picks up the children. Taking pictures.”
Vance looked at his mother.
She didn’t blink.
“They’re verifying facts,” she said.
Grant heard her.
“Then here’s a fact. If either man approaches those kids, we call the police.”
The line went dead.
Vance stood.
“Call them off.”
“Vance—”
“Now.”
Eleanor reached for her phone.
He waited until the order was given.
Then he took the folder.
Lila grabbed his sleeve.
“You’re throwing away three years over one night.”
He pulled free.
“No. I’m finding out what those three years cost.”
His phone buzzed again.
A photograph from Grant.
Maddie stood outside the daycare, June in her arms, Theo pressed against her knee.
Behind them, a man held up a camera.
May you like
The message beneath it was worse.
Theo thinks they’re here to take his mother away.
