Chapter 4 - Unit 214
By 2:10 a.m., flames were rising above a storage facility near Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.
Adrian watched the footage on Marco’s phone.
Unit 214 was somewhere inside.
“Coincidence?” Marco asked.
“No.”
“Vanessa?”
“Or Vale.”
Adrian looked upstairs.
The children were asleep.
He could not leave them.
That realization irritated him because three months ago he would already have been in the car.
Now every decision had two small faces attached to it.
“Go,” Adrian told Marco.
“You’re staying?”
“Yes.”
Marco almost smiled.
“Never thought I’d see the day.”
“Don’t.”
Marco left.
Adrian sat in the dark kitchen.
For years, people had described him as heartless.
It had been useful.
Heartless men were difficult to threaten.
Michael had been the exception.
Now Leo and Mia were too.
That made them dangerous to Adrian.
And Adrian dangerous to anyone who touched them.
At 3:07 a.m., he heard small footsteps.
Mia appeared in the doorway.
Her hair was tangled.
She carried the dinosaur.
“You’re awake.”
“So are you.”
“Leo had bad dream.”
Adrian stood.
They went upstairs.
Leo was sweating.
His eyes were open.
“Uncle Adrian?”
“I’m here.”
“Mom found us.”
“No.”
“She was in the room.”
“It was a dream.”
Leo looked toward the window.
“She said Dad died because he talked.”
Adrian stopped.
“Did she ever say that before?”
Leo realized he had said too much.
“Leo.”
The boy stared at the blanket.
“One time.”
“When?”
“After Daddy died.”
“What exactly did she say?”
“She was mad because I asked if you were coming.”
Adrian sat down.
“And?”
“She said, ‘Your father should have learned when to keep his mouth shut.’”
The words were simple.
A child could remember them.
Adrian wished he had not.
At sunrise, Marco returned.
Smoke clung to his jacket.
“Unit 214?”
“Fire started two rows away.”
“So it survived?”
“Mostly.”
Adrian stood.
“What was inside?”
Marco placed a metal box on the table.
“Records.”
“What kind?”
“Medical.”
Daniel came downstairs.
Marco opened the box.
Folders.
Photographs.
Patient lists.
Children.
Dozens of names.
Adrian’s stomach turned.
The clinic was not merely a money-laundering operation.
It had been used to create false medical histories.
Injuries documented incorrectly.
Custody reports altered.
Parents declared unstable.
Children moved between guardians.
All for money.
Michael had discovered it.
Vanessa had been using his identity to hide transactions.
And after Michael confronted her, he died.
“What does Leo have to do with this?” Daniel asked.
Adrian searched the folders.
Then he found one with Leo’s name.
LEONARD MORETTI.
Inside was a medical report dated tomorrow.
Cause of injury:
Accidental fall.
Additional concern:
Behavioral instability.
Possible self-harm behavior.
Adrian read it twice.
“He’s six.”
Daniel took the paper.
“They were building a record.”
“For what?”
Daniel turned the page.
A psychiatric transfer form.
Planned.
Unsigned.
“If Leo had stayed at the clinic,” Daniel said, “they could have claimed he was unstable.”
Marco looked at Adrian.
“And Mia?”
Another folder existed.
MIA MORETTI.
The forms were blank.
Waiting.
Adrian understood.
Vanessa was creating legal documentation that would make anything the children said unreliable.
If Leo accused her of hurting him, she could claim behavioral problems.
If Mia spoke, she was too young.
Michael was dead.
Adrian had a criminal reputation.
Vanessa thought she had covered every path.
Except the children had escaped.
And they had remembered the one address their father had taught them.
Adrian’s phone rang.
Rachel from CPS.
“We need to talk.”
“Come over.”
“Not by phone.”
Her tone was serious.
“What happened?”
“Vanessa filed an emergency petition.”
“For what?”
“She’s asking a judge to prohibit you from contacting the children.”
Adrian laughed once.
No humor.
“On what grounds?”
“Criminal influence. Unsafe environment. Psychological manipulation.”
“She broke her son’s leg.”
“We’re investigating.”
“She owns the clinic that falsified his records.”
“That will matter.”
“When?”
“At the hearing.”
“When?”
“Ten o’clock.”
Four hours.
Vanessa was moving fast.
Too fast.
Someone was helping her.
“Who’s the judge?”
Rachel hesitated.
“Elliot Barnes.”
Marco heard.
His face changed.
“What?”
Adrian ended the call.
“Barnes has connections to Vale.”
“Proof?”
“No.”
“That’s not good enough.”
“It will have to be.”
At breakfast, Adrian tried to keep the children unaware.
Mia ate pancakes with her fingers.
Leo barely touched anything.
“Are you leaving?” he asked.
“For a few hours.”
Leo went pale.
“I’ll come back.”
“Mom says people say that.”
Adrian moved his chair closer.
“I told you I don’t lie to you.”
“Daddy said that too.”
Pain crossed Adrian’s face.
Leo immediately regretted it.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.”
“Are you mad?”
“At you? Never.”
Leo looked surprised.
Adrian realized the boy had probably never heard an adult say that.
“I need to talk to a judge.”
“About us?”
“Yes.”
“Will he make us go home?”
Adrian chose the truth.
“He might try.”
Mia dropped her fork.
“No.”
Leo reached for her.
Adrian leaned forward.
“But I’m going to show him what happened.”
“Will he believe you?”
“He better.”
At the courthouse, Vanessa wore white.
Of course she did.
She looked like a grieving widow.
Soft makeup.
Red eyes.
No jewelry except Michael’s wedding ring on a chain around her neck.
Adrian nearly lost control when he saw it.
Her lawyer described Adrian as dangerous.
Unstable.
Violent.
A criminal figure exploiting grieving children.
Adrian’s attorney objected.
Judge Barnes allowed most of it.
Then Vanessa testified.
She cried beautifully.
She said Leo had fallen.
She said he had become hysterical.
She said Adrian had always hated her.
She said Michael had feared his brother.
Every lie was polished.
Then Adrian’s lawyer presented the clinic ownership records.
Vanessa’s tears stopped.
The hospital bracelet.
The false report.
Dr. Walsh’s medical findings.
The room changed.
Judge Barnes leaned forward.
“Mrs. Moretti, were you aware that the clinic listed a discharge date that had not yet occurred?”
Vanessa looked at her attorney.
“No.”
“Yet you own twenty-two percent of the facility.”
“I’m an investor.”
“Your son was treated there.”
“My attorney recommended it.”
Adrian looked at Vanessa’s lawyer.
He looked uncomfortable.
Interesting.
“Which attorney?” the judge asked.
Vanessa hesitated.
Then said, “Graham Vale.”
The courtroom went silent.
Even Judge Barnes reacted.
Adrian watched him carefully.
Too carefully.
The judge knew Vale.
After ninety minutes, Barnes issued a temporary order.
The children would remain away from Vanessa.
Adrian almost relaxed.
Then the second half came.
They would not stay with Adrian either.
“Pending a full evaluation,” Barnes said, “the children will enter temporary protective placement.”
Leo had trusted Adrian.
Adrian had promised.
And now the court intended to take them.
His attorney whispered, “Don’t react.”
Adrian stood slowly.
“When?”
“Immediately,” Barnes said.
Rachel approached him in the hallway.
“I’m sorry.”
“No.”
“This isn’t permanent.”
“No.”
“Adrian.”
“You told me kinship placement was possible.”
“It is.”
“Then fix it.”
“I don’t control the judge.”
“Who does?”
Rachel looked at him.
Adrian knew he had said too much.
He exhaled.
“Where are they going?”
“I can’t tell you until arrangements are finalized.”
“Are they safe?”
“Yes.”
“You swear?”
“Yes.”
Back at the estate, Leo knew the moment Adrian entered.
He saw his uncle’s face.
“No.”
Adrian crouched in front of him.
“I’m fighting it.”
“No.”
“You’re going somewhere safe for a little while.”
“You promised.”
“I know.”
“You promised!”
Leo tried to stand.
Pain shot through his leg.
He screamed.
Mia started crying.
Adrian caught him.
“I know.”
“You lied!”
The words hit harder than any bullet Adrian had taken.
“I’m not giving up.”
“You’re making us go.”
“No.”
“You’re making us go!”
Leo pushed against him.
Adrian let him.
He took every small fist against his chest.
“I hate you!”
Adrian closed his eyes.
“That’s okay.”
Leo stopped.
Adrian held him.
“You can hate me. I’m still coming for you.”
Two CPS vehicles arrived.
Rachel came inside.
Mia refused to release Adrian’s shirt.
Leo stopped speaking entirely.
Adrian carried him to the vehicle.
Before Rachel closed the door, Leo looked at him.
His face was blank.
That was worse than tears.
Adrian stepped back.
The vehicle pulled away.
Marco came beside him.
“We’ll overturn it.”
Adrian watched the taillights disappear.
“Find everything on Judge Barnes.”
Marco nodded.
Then Adrian’s phone buzzed.
A photograph arrived from an unknown number.
It had been taken seconds earlier.
Leo and Mia inside the CPS vehicle.
From another car.
Following them.
A message appeared beneath it.
YOU SHOULD HAVE LET VANESSA TAKE THEM.
Adrian looked up.
The CPS vehicle turned at the end of the road.
May you like
A black sedan turned behind it.
And disappeared.
