“What does it say?”
“Daniel.”
“Read it.”
She hesitated.
Then did.
Caleb,
I don’t know if Luke still speaks to you, but I need someone in his family to know I made a mistake.
Daniel was good to Sophie, but things have changed. I’m afraid the adoption happened too quickly. Luke should never have lost his chance to be her father.
If something happens to me, please make sure Sophie knows the truth.
Hannah.
Daniel listened without breathing.
Rebecca said, “It’s dated six weeks before Hannah died.”
Daniel felt dizzy.
“Send it.”
“I will.”
“Now.”
A photograph arrived seconds later.
Daniel enlarged it.
Hannah’s handwriting.
Or something close.
Very close.
He stared.
The H.
The way she crossed the t in truth.
The uneven spacing.
His stomach turned.
“What if it’s real?” Rebecca asked quietly.
Daniel snapped, “It isn’t.”
“I believe you.”
“That isn’t what you said.”
“I asked because we need to establish it.”
Daniel zoomed closer.
Then he saw something.
The stationery.
Cream paper.
A small blue symbol in the upper-right corner.
His architectural firm.
Hannah had worked there before Sophie was born.
But the company rebranded three years before her death.
The old stationery had been removed.
Some probably remained in storage.
Daniel stared.
“Where did Luke get this?”
“We’re asking.”
“Rebecca.”
“Yes?”
“That letter is on stationery Hannah hadn’t used in years.”
Silence.
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
“That doesn’t prove—”
“I know.”
He enlarged the bottom edge.
There was another problem.
Hannah never signed personal letters Hannah.
She signed H.
Always.
Daniel knew how absurdly small that sounded.
He also knew marriage was built from absurdly small knowledge.
How someone folded towels.
Which side of the bed they preferred.
The exact shape of a handwritten H.
“This is fake.”
Rebecca exhaled.
“I’m sending it to forensics.”
“Where is Luke?”
“Police made contact at the motel.”
“Arrested?”
“No active charge yet.”
“He violated the protective order.”
“The order bars direct contact with Sophie and school property. He hasn’t approached either.”
“He sent Caleb.”
“Yes.”
“That’s indirect.”
“Possibly.”
Daniel hated the word again.
“What does Caleb say?”
“He claims he believed the letter.”
“Of course.”
“He also admits Luke asked him to verify where Sophie lived.”
Daniel stood.
“And Caleb used the database.”
“Yes.”
“So he committed misconduct for his brother.”
“Yes.”
“Did Luke ask him to take Sophie?”
Rebecca went quiet.
“Rebecca.”