Chapter 2 - THE WOMAN IN THE GRAY COAT
The woman’s name was Melissa Grant. She had been Noah’s temporary guardian for six months, though Daniel had never met her. During the last stretch of his sentence, every letter he sent his son had come back marked UNDELIVERABLE.
“Noah stays with me,” Melissa said. “You know the order.”
“I know I was released this morning.”
“That doesn’t give you custody.”
Daniel looked at Noah. “Where’s Aunt Rachel?”
Noah stared at the wet sidewalk. “She moved.”
Rachel was Daniel’s younger sister. She had promised to take care of Noah when Daniel went inside. She would never have handed him to a stranger without telling him.
A prison guard approached. Melissa immediately softened her voice.
“Mr. Mercer is upsetting the child.”
Noah stepped forward. “He’s my dad. I came here.”
“How did you get here?” Daniel asked.
“Bus.”
“By yourself?”
Noah nodded. “Melissa leaves early. I get home before she does.”
Melissa’s face tightened. “He makes things up for attention.”
Daniel wanted to take Noah’s hand and walk away. But Melissa was right about the order. One wrong move on his first day out could send him back inside.
He took an old receipt from his pocket and wrote down the number of the halfway house.
“Call me anytime,” he told Noah.
Melissa grabbed Noah’s shoulder. He winced.
Daniel saw it. So did the guard.
“Noah,” Daniel said quietly, “look at me. I’m coming for you the right way.”
Noah clutched the sandwich to his chest as Melissa led him away.
At the curb, he turned around. “Dad? Aunt Rachel didn’t move.”
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Melissa yanked him toward the car.
“She told me you weren’t supposed to know where she is.”
