Chapter 14 - The Woman Who Never DiedDr. Evelyn Shaw was arrested at St. Matthew’s before sunrise.
She asked for a lawyer.
Then she saw Michael.
Her face changed.
“You.”
Michael stared through the interview-room glass.
Daniel stood beside him.
“You thought she died?”
“Yes.”
“Did you ever confirm?”
“No.”
Daniel turned.
“You took a newborn and ran without knowing whether his mother survived?”
Michael’s jaw tightened.
“Hayes’s men were coming.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“It’s the truth.”
Daniel was sick of the truth arriving in pieces.
Evelyn eventually agreed to talk after federal investigators showed her the payment records.
She looked tired.
Not frightened.
“I didn’t kill Sarah.”
Daniel sat across from her.
“Then who did?”
“No one.”
He stopped.
Evelyn continued.
“She survived.”
Daniel’s pulse hammered.
“Sarah is alive?”
“She was.”
“What does that mean?”
“I haven’t seen her in six years.”
Daniel leaned forward.
“You signed her death certificate.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“To make her disappear.”
“On whose orders?”
Evelyn’s eyes moved toward Michael behind the glass.
“Sarah’s.”
Daniel stared.
“She wanted to be declared dead?”
“She had learned what Northstar was doing.”
“So she went underground.”
“Yes.”
“And left her infant son with Michael?”
Evelyn shook her head.
“No.”
Daniel’s breathing changed.
“She didn’t?”
“Sarah wanted Evan returned to you.”
Daniel went still.
“Then why wasn’t he?”
Evelyn looked through the glass at Michael.
“Ask him.”
Daniel stood so abruptly the chair scraped backward.
He entered the observation room.
Michael didn’t turn.
“She wanted Evan returned to me.”
“Yes.”
Daniel’s voice shook.
“And you didn’t.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Michael finally faced him.
“Because she changed her mind.”
“Evelyn says she didn’t.”
“Evelyn doesn’t know everything.”
“Then tell me.”
Michael closed his eyes.
“Sarah contacted me three days after she disappeared.”
“And?”
“She said Northstar had already approached someone close to you.”
Daniel felt dread.
“Who?”
“She didn’t know.”
“So you decided I was unsafe.”
“Yes.”
“You decided.”
“Yes.”
Daniel laughed bitterly.
“You always decided.”
Michael accepted it.
“I did.”
“Where did Sarah go?”
“I don’t know.”
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
Daniel stared.
Michael continued.
“She contacted me twice.”
“When was the last time?”
“Six years ago.”
“What did she say?”
Michael hesitated.
“She asked about Evan.”
“And?”
“I told her he was safe.”
Daniel’s hands curled.
“Did she ask to see him?”
“Yes.”
“You refused?”
Michael looked away.
Daniel felt something inside him break.
“You kept a child from both biological parents.”
“I was protecting him.”
“No.”
Daniel’s voice rose.
“You were punishing yourself.”
Michael stopped.
Daniel continued.
“You framed David.”
“You caused Sarah’s shooting.”
“You thought raising Evan would fix it.”
Michael’s face collapsed because Daniel had found the truth beneath all the excuses.
“You didn’t save him for us.”
Daniel’s voice lowered.
“You saved him for you.”
Evan stood in the doorway.
Everyone froze.
The boy had heard.
Michael went pale.
“Evan.”
The child looked at him.
“Did my mom want me back?”
Michael’s eyes filled.
“Yes.”
“Did you tell her no?”
Michael could barely speak.
“Yes.”
Evan nodded slowly.
Then walked away.
Michael started after him.
Daniel blocked the doorway.
“No.”
“He needs me.”
Daniel looked at his brother.
“He needs one adult to stop deciding what he needs without asking.”
Michael stopped.
Daniel found Evan sitting in the hallway.
He sat beside him.
Neither spoke for a while.
Then Evan whispered, “Is my mom alive?”
“I don’t know.”
“Will you find her?”
“Yes.”
“Even if she doesn’t want me?”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“Yes.”
The boy nodded.
Then pulled something from his pocket.
A small folded photograph.
Daniel recognized Sarah immediately.
Older.
Standing beside a lake.
“What is that?”
“I found it in Dad’s house.”
Daniel turned it over.
A date.
Two years ago.
And a handwritten message.
M — I can’t keep waiting. Tell Daniel before someone else does. — S.
Daniel stared.
Michael had heard from Sarah far more recently than six years ago.
He walked back into the observation room.
Michael saw the photograph.
His face drained.
Daniel placed it on the table.
“Two years.”
Michael said nothing.
“You lied again.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
Michael looked toward Evan.
“Because Sarah found something.”
“What?”
“She discovered Northstar never stopped watching you.”
Daniel frowned.
“How?”
Michael swallowed.
“Because the person closest to you was still reporting everything.”
Daniel’s heart slowed.
“Who?”
Michael looked ashamed.
“Lisa.”
Daniel stared.
“No.”
Michael nodded.
“Sarah believed Officer Lisa Moreno worked for Northstar.”
At that exact moment, Daniel’s phone rang.
Lisa.
He looked through the glass.
Evan was no longer in the hallway.
Daniel answered.
“Where is he?”
Lisa’s voice was calm.
“Safe.”
Daniel’s blood went cold.
“Lisa.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Bring him back.”
“I can’t.”
Then Daniel heard Evan in the background.
May you like
“Daniel!”
The line went dead.
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