ents, burst through the front doo

ere masks of

here's Ethan?" Carol cr

toic, looked p

living room, and me, in the hal

ked, her attention snapping to me. "Why

at her, t

yesterday," I stated calmly. "All of it. The

fli

stared at hi

alking about?" Bob a

it was a loan. A temp

desperate,

cal medical bills. Very sick.

cutting through his excuses. "For Ethan. Call T

is eyes darted betwe

g again. The

d, his han

ne hour, Miller. This is your las

be heard in the backg

ed utterl

side themselves, Ca

hone, the one I

e same secure number: "We c

he phon

erical in-laws, at

oice quiet but firm, "the leng

, the doo

, ins

one f

pe in his eyes. "Maybe... ma

who i

the door a

s stood on o

makeup slightly smudged

e. "I need that remaining twenty-five thousand.