PART 2

The drive to Wesley’s neighborhood took less than fifteen minutes, but it felt much longer.

Harlan kept Sadie on speaker the whole way. Whenever her breathing faded, he asked simple questions.

“What color is your blanket?”

“Yellow.”

“The moon blanket?”

“Yeah.”

That was Sadie. She loved planets, stars, dinosaurs, and quiet little facts about space.

When Harlan reached the house, everything looked perfect from outside. Trimmed lawn. Porch lights. Clean driveway. A safe-looking home.

But he knew safe-looking houses could hide terrible things.

He used the spare key and stepped inside.

The air was too warm.

The thermostat was set to vacation mode.

A house prepared for people who were away.

Not for a sick child upstairs.

He took a photo.

Then he walked into the kitchen.

On the counter were children’s fever medicine, crackers, a dosing cup, and a folded pastel note.

Maren’s handwriting was neat and rounded.

The note told Sadie to take one dose before bed, stop making a scene, not call the neighbors unless it was a “real emergency,” and not make Carter feel guilty about his birthday trip.

Harlan read it twice.

The first time, he saw the cruelty.

The second time, he saw the planning.

This was not panic. This was not forgetfulness.

This was an instruction telling a sick child that needing help was an inconvenience.

Then he found the thermometer.

He pressed the memory button.

103.7.

They had checked.

They had known.

And they had left anyway.

Harlan photographed the note, the thermometer, and the thermostat.

Then Sadie whispered through the phone.