Chapter 3 - The Children Speak Separately
Lily was taken to St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.
Her fever was high, but doctors found no evidence of serious injury. She was dehydrated and exhausted.
Walter stayed with her until sunrise.
Mason was examined separately and then interviewed by trained professionals without Brian, Claire, or Walter telling him what to say.
Walter hated that separation.
He also understood why it was necessary.
By eight that morning, neither child was going home with either parent.
A child-protection investigator explained that temporary arrangements would be reviewed after immediate safety information was gathered.
Walter offered his house.
He did not assume that being their grandfather automatically gave him the right.
Background checks were run.
The home was reviewed.
By evening, a temporary kinship arrangement was approved while authorities and the family court considered what came next.
Mason barely spoke during the drive to Walter’s house.
Lily slept most of the way.
That night, Mason finally asked one question.
“Is Mom going to jail?”
Walter sat across from him at the kitchen table.
“I don’t know.”
“Dad?”
“I don’t know that either.”
Mason stared into his hot chocolate.
Then he whispered, “Dad knew she tied me.”
Walter’s jaw tightened.
“How do you know?”
“He came home before.”
Walter went still.
“Before I did?”
Mason nodded.
“He saw me.”
“And left?”
Mason’s eyes filled.
“He told Mom, ‘Handle your problem.’”
Walter had believed Brian walked into the scene at 2:00 a.m. and reacted with shocking indifference.
Now the truth was worse.
Brian had apparently seen his children earlier.
He knew Mason was restrained.
He knew Lily was sick.
And he chose to leave.
Walter forced himself not to ask leading questions.
“What happened before Mom put you in the closet?”
Mason became nervous.
“I went into Dad’s office.”
“What did you see?”
“Mom was printing stuff.”
“What stuff?”
“Hospital bills.”
Walter frowned.
“Whose?”
Mason shook his head.
“They had Lily’s name on them.”
Walter felt something cold move through him.
Lily had been sick many times.
But not sick enough to generate stacks of hospital bills.
Mason continued.
“I told Mom I was calling you.”
“Why me?”
“Because they were talking about your money.”
Walter stopped breathing for a second.
“What money?”
May you like
Mason looked toward the hallway as if he still expected his parents to appear.
“The money you saved for us.”
