Outside, a car had slowed at the end of our street.
It wasn’t Daniel’s truck.
The car stayed at the end of the street for four minutes.
Adoption
I counted.
Then it moved on.
I stepped back from the window and told myself it was nothing.
A neighbor checking their phone.
Someone lost.
I told myself that, and I almost believed it.
“We can’t stay here,” Ava said.
“We’re not running anywhere.
Not yet.” I picked up the photograph again.
People & Society
“We need to think.”
“There’s nothing to think about.
You have the note.
You have the photo.
You have me.”
“My word and yours against a police report that’s five years old.” I set the photo down.
“We need more.”
Ava was quiet for a moment.
Then: “His brother.”
Death & Tragedy
I looked at her.
“Marcus,” she said.
“Daniel’s brother.
