Chapter 2 - THE MAN JANICE SAID WAS DEAD
Savannah pushed Milo behind her.
“Who is outside?”
Janice hurried toward the door.
“Don't open it.”
“You just said he found us.”
“Savannah.”
“Who?”
Another knock.
This time the voice came through the door.
“Janice.”
Janice went completely still.
Savannah had never seen her mother react to a voice like that.
Not anger.
Not surprise.
Recognition.
Derek grabbed the belt from the floor.
The man outside spoke again.
“I know Milo is in there.”
Savannah looked at her mother.
Milo tightened his arms around Savannah's waist.
Janice whispered:
“Take Milo upstairs.”
“No.”
“Do what I said.”
“No.”
Derek stepped toward the entrance.
“Get off my property!”
The man replied immediately.
“Open the door, Derek.”
Derek stopped.
Savannah looked from one adult to the other.
“Who is he?”
Nobody answered.
Then red and blue light spilled through the front windows.
Police.
Derek's expression changed again.
Savannah ran to the door.
Janice caught her wrist.
“Don't.”
Savannah pulled free.
She opened it.
Two police officers stood on the porch.
Between them was a tall man in his early forties wearing a dark coat.
His hair was touched with gray.
His eyes immediately moved past Savannah.
Toward Milo.
The man looked like he'd forgotten how to breathe.
“Milo.”
Milo hid behind Savannah.
The stranger's eyes filled with tears.
Savannah stepped in front of him.
“Who are you?”
The man looked at her.
“Caleb Hayes.”
The name meant nothing.
Until Janice spoke behind her.
“He has no right to be here.”
Caleb's expression hardened.
One officer raised a hand.
“Ma'am, we're responding to a child-welfare report.”
Derek pointed toward Caleb.
“This psycho has been stalking my family.”
Caleb didn't even look at him.
He kept his eyes on Milo.
Savannah turned to her mother.
“Who is Caleb?”
Janice said nothing.
Caleb answered.
“I'm Milo's father.”
The room became silent.
Savannah almost laughed.
Not because anything was funny.
Because the statement was impossible.
“No.”
Caleb looked at her.
“Yes.”
Savannah shook her head.
“Milo's father is dead.”
Caleb's face changed.
He slowly looked at Janice.
Then back at Savannah.
“Who told you that?”
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Savannah already knew the answer.
Her mother.
