I left Clara with Miller. I drove to her house. When I arrived. The front door was wide open. Daniel was standing on the porch. He was talking to two uniformed officers. I walked up the steps. What happened. I asked. Daniel looked at me. He looked tired. He got away. He said. He knew the neighborhood. He knew the escape routes. But we got something better. He handed me a plastic evidence bag. Inside was the rag he had dropped. It smelled like gasoline. And something else.
He dropped his lighter. Daniel said. It’s in a bag inside. But the best part is the camera footage. We have him on video. Clear as day. I looked at the house. The window was broken again. There was black spray paint on the siding. It said a single word. MINE. My fists clenched. He is claiming ownership. I said. He thinks Liam is his property. He is a sick man. Daniel said. But he made a mistake. He showed his face. When the headlights hit him. The hood slipped back for a second. I saw the footage. I saw it too. It wasn’t Evan. I said. No. It wasn’t. Daniel smiled grimly. It was his brother.
Marcus.
Marcus had a record.
He had done time for aggravated assault.
Evan is using his own flesh and blood to do his dirty work.
Because he thinks it gives him plausible deniability.
He thinks we can’t prove he hired him.
We will prove it.
I said.
Sarah will find the money trail.
I hope so.
Daniel said.
Because if we can’t link it to Evan.
Vance will spin this as a random act of vandalism by a disgruntled relative.
I looked at the spray paint.
I am going to kill him.
I said quietly.
No.
Daniel said.
You are going to put him in a cage.
And you are going to throw away the key.
The police finished their initial sweep.
They took the evidence.
They took our statements.
They told us they would increase patrols in the area.
I locked the broken window with a piece of plywood.
I drove back to my house.
Clara was awake.
She was sitting at the kitchen table.
She looked at my face.
It was Marcus.
I said.
Evan sent his brother.
Clara closed her eyes.
She put her head in her hands.
He is never going to stop.
She whispered.
He is going to keep sending people.
He is going to keep trying to hurt us.
I sat across from her.
I took her hands.
Listen to me.
I said.
This is his last desperate move.
He is losing control.
He knows the final hearing is in three days.
He knows he is going to lose full custody.
This is a tantrum.
A violent, dangerous tantrum.
But it is the thrashing of a drowning man.
We just need to hold on for three more days.
She looked at me.
Her eyes were filled with tears.
I am so scared.
I know.
I said.
But you are not alone.
I am here.
Daniel is here.
The police are here.
He cannot touch you.
She nodded slowly.
Three days.
She said.
Just three days.
We can do anything for three days.
PART-16: The Confession
The next morning.
Sarah called me.
She sounded excited.
Arthur.
She said.
You need to come to my office.
Now.
I left Clara with Daniel.
I drove to Sarah’s office.
When I walked in.
She was sitting at her desk.
She had a file open.
She was smiling.
What is it.
I asked.
We got him.
She said.
She turned her computer monitor toward me.
It was a bank statement.
It showed a withdrawal of five thousand dollars in cash.
Made two days ago.
By Evan.
I looked closer.
The withdrawal was made at a branch near Marcus’s apartment.
Marcus was just released from prison.
I said.
He doesn’t have a job.
He doesn’t have a bank account.
Exactly.
Sarah said.
But we didn’t just get the bank statement.
We got a witness.
She handed me a printed transcript.
It was a police interview.
From last night.
After the police found Marcus.
They didn’t just let him go.
They detained him for questioning regarding the arson attempt.
And they found something in his pockets.
Sarah said.
She slid a photograph across the desk.
It was a burner phone.
The police got a warrant.
They cracked the passcode.
They found the text messages.
I read the screen.
The messages were between Evan and Marcus.
Evan: Do it tonight. Make it look like an accident.
Marcus: If I get caught, I’m talking.
Evan: You won’t get caught. Just burn the front door. I transferred the money.
Marcus: Got it. Doing it now.
I looked up at Sarah.
My hands were shaking.
This is it.
I said.
This is the smoking gun.
This is everything.
Sarah nodded.
It proves conspiracy.
It proves solicitation of arson.
It proves he is actively violating the emergency order.
I am filing these with the court this morning.
I am also forwarding them to the District Attorney.
Evan isn’t just going to lose custody.
She said.
He is going to prison.
I felt a massive weight lift off my chest.
It was over.
The nightmare was finally ending.
Thank you.
I said.
Don’t thank me.
Thank your daughter.
She is the one who survived him.
I drove back to my house.
I told Clara the news.
She didn’t cheer.
She didn’t smile.
She just started to cry.
But this time.
They were tears of relief.
She held Liam tight.
It is over.
She whispered.
It is really over.
Yes.
I said.
He can never hurt you again.
