Sentencing Day

Benjamin's POVRichard's sentence was supposed to be reviewed after five years. But new evidence came to light.Emails between Richard and another inmate, discussing plans to harm Evelyn once he got out."I will make her pay for destroying my life," one email read. "She will regret the day she crossed me."Detective Morrison showed us the emails.Evelyn's face went pale. "He is still threatening me? After five years?""I am afraid so. But this actually works in our favor. These emails will be presented at his review hearing.They prove he is still a danger.""Will this keep him in prison longer?""Almost certainly. Threatening victims is taken very seriously."The review hearing was scheduled for the following month.Lisa Park, now a full district attorney, would present the state's case for keeping Richard incarcerated."I need you both to testify," she told us."About what?" Evelyn asked."About the ongoing impact of Richard's crimes. About these threats. About why releasing him wou

Samuel's Question

Evelyn's POVSamuel walked into the kitchen holding a picture he drew at school. A family. Him, Rachel, me, and Benjamin."Evie, can I ask you something?"I put down my coffee. "Of course, buddy.""When do I call you Mom?"My breath caught. The spoon in my hand clattered against the counter."What do you mean?""Tyler at school says people with two homes have two moms. I have Mommy Tonia. But you take care of me every day. Does that make you my mom too?"I knelt down to his level. "What do you want to call me?"He chewed his lip. "I do not know. I love Mommy Tonia. But I love you too. Is that okay?""That is more than okay. Love is not a pie, Samuel. You do not run out of pieces.""So I can love both?""You can love as many people as your heart holds."Benjamin walked in from his morning run. Sweat dripped down his face."What are we talking about?" he asked."Samuel wants to know what to call Evelyn," Rachel said from the living room where she played with blocks.Benjamin grabbed a t

The Hospital Visit

Benjamin's POVI drove Evelyn to the hospital the next morning. She stared out the window, silent."You do not have to do this," I said for the tenth time."I know.""Richard does not deserve your compassion.""This is not about what he deserves."We pulled into the hospital parking lot. Two prison guards waited at the entrance."Mrs. Phoenix?" the taller one asked."Yes.""Follow us. Mr. Harrison is on the fourth floor. Intensive care."We rode the elevator in tense silence. My jaw hurt from clenching it so hard.Richard's room was at the end of the hall. Machines beeped. Tubes ran everywhere.He looked smaller than I remembered. Gray hair. Sunken cheeks. The cancer had eaten away at him."Evelyn," he whispered when he saw her.She walked closer to the bed. I stayed by the door, ready to pull her out if needed."Why did you ask for me?" she asked."Because I am dying. And I needed to tell you the truth.""The truth? Now? After five years of lies?"Richard coughed. Blood flecked his l

The Will

Evelyn's POVDavid Chen's office smelled like expensive leather and betrayal. I sat across from him, Benjamin's hand tight in mine."Thank you for coming," Chen said, opening a folder."Just tell us what Richard wanted," I replied."Very well. Richard left his entire estate to Samuel and Rachel Harrison. Approximately seven hundred thousand dollars in assets."My jaw dropped. "Seven hundred thousand? From where?""Investments he made before his incarceration. They matured over the past five years.""Blood money," Benjamin muttered.Chen ignored him. "However, there is a condition. Evelyn Phoenix must serve as trustee until the children turn eighteen.""Absolutely not," I said. "Tonia is their mother. She should control the trust.""Richard specifically excluded Tonia Williams from any fiduciary role. He stated, and I quote, she cannot be trusted with money.""But I can? The woman he tried to destroy?"Chen slid papers across the desk. "He wrote you a letter. Perhaps it explains his re

The Investigation

Benjamin's POVDetective Morrison sat across from us, Richard's journal open on his desk."These last entries are concerning," he said. "But without specifics, there is little we can investigate.""He mentions arrangements. People who will carry out his wishes," I pointed out."Vague language. Could mean anything or nothing."Evelyn leaned forward. "Detective, you know Richard. He never did anything without a plan. This journal entry is a plan."Morrison closed the journal. "I will run background checks on everyone who visited him in prison. See if any names raise flags. But that will take time.""How much time?""Weeks. Maybe months."Outside the police station, Evelyn kicked a trash can. "Useless. Completely useless.""Morrison is doing his job.""His job is protecting people. How is he protecting us when he will not take this seriously?""What do you want him to do? Arrest ghosts?"She spun to face me. "I want him to act like Richard's threat is real. Because I know it is."We drov

Meeting Olivia

Evelyn's POVWe arranged the meeting at a neutral location. A park with playgrounds and open space.Samuel and Rachel arrived first, bouncing with excitement."Are we really meeting our sister?" Samuel asked."Yes. But remember, she might be nervous. Be gentle."Claire and Olivia appeared ten minutes later. Olivia hid behind her mother's legs."It is okay, baby," Claire said softly. "These are the kids I told you about."Rachel ran forward. "Hi! I am Rachel! Do you like dolls?"Olivia nodded shyly."I brought my favorite doll to show you!"Within minutes, the three children played together like they always knew each other.Claire watched with tears in her eyes. "I never thought she would have siblings. I raised her alone. No family. No support.""You did an amazing job," I said."I did what I had to. Richard gave me hush money. Twenty thousand dollars to disappear. I used it to move here. To start over.""Why did not you contact him again? For more support?""Because I was scared. Ric