His name was Richard.
He turned his head when I entered.
For a moment, he stared at me.
Then recognition appeared in his eyes.
“You’re Daniel’s mother.”
“Yes.”
He stiffened.
“My children had no business involving you. If you’re here looking for money, you can leave.”
I nearly laughed.
“Money?”
I reached into my purse and pulled out the velvet pouch.
Then I dropped it onto his blanket.
“You can choke on that diamond ring,” I said. “But you will never see Ellie if you think you can treat her the way you treated her mother.”
Richard looked at the pouch but didn’t touch it.
I stepped closer.
“Your daughter and my son died in a car accident three years ago. You didn’t even come to their funeral.”
His eyes lowered.
“I know.”
“You knew they were dead?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
He swallowed.
“The police contacted me the next morning.”
