Chapter 4 - FIFTY-THREE LETTERS
The officers separated everyone.
Milo was taken to the hospital for examination.
Savannah rode with him.
Janice tried to follow.
Milo grabbed Savannah's sleeve and whispered:
“Don't let Mom come.”
Those five words hurt Savannah more than anything she'd seen in the kitchen.
At the hospital, doctors documented bruising on Milo's legs and back.
Some were fresh.
Others were not.
Savannah stared at the older marks.
“How long?”
Milo looked at the blanket.
“Milo.”
He shrugged.
“How long has Derek been hitting you?”
His voice became almost inaudible.
“Since summer.”
Six months.
Savannah felt sick.
“Why didn't you tell me?”
Milo's eyes filled.
“Mom said if I told you, Derek would make you go away again.”
Savannah closed her eyes.
Across the hallway Caleb was speaking to a detective.
He had not tried to approach Milo again.
That earned him Savannah's first tiny piece of trust.
Hours later, Caleb asked Savannah if they could speak.
She crossed her arms.
“You have five minutes.”
Caleb handed her the folder.
Inside were photocopies of letters.
Dozens.
Every envelope carried Janice's name.
Some were addressed to Milo.
Birthday cards.
Christmas cards.
Requests for photographs.
Requests for visitation.
Copies of certified-mail receipts.
Savannah counted.
Fifty-three.
“You sent all these?”
“Yes.”
“She said you were dead.”
Caleb looked down.
“I figured that out tonight.”
Savannah found a letter from six years earlier.
MILO'S SECOND BIRTHDAY.
Another from age four.
Another from five.
Some contained copies of checks.
Thousands of dollars.
“What is this?”
“Child support.”
Savannah looked at him.
“Derek always said you never paid anything.”
“I paid every month through the state.”
Something inside Savannah shifted.
Not enough to trust Caleb.
Enough to understand her mother had lied.
“There has to be more.”
“There is.”
Caleb hesitated.
“I didn't disappear voluntarily.”
“Then why didn't you come?”
“I tried.”
“What stopped you?”
Caleb looked toward Milo's hospital room.
“Your mother got a restraining order.”
Savannah frowned.
“For what?”
“She said I threatened to kidnap Milo.”
“Did you?”
“No.”
“Why would a judge believe her?”
“Because she had evidence.”
Savannah waited.
May you like
Caleb's mouth tightened.
“Evidence I now believe Derek created.”
