Dawson's laugh sounded broken.
“Your sister had a child with Claire's husband.”
“Then she died.”
“And you decided to have him too.”
“Dawson—”
He hung up.
Then handed the phone back to me.
Neither of us spoke.
Finally I asked:
“Where does Oliver live?”
“With Megan's parents.”
Dawson shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“That's what she told me.”
He took my phone again.
Enlarged the photograph.
The building behind Ryan and Megan.
Brick exterior.
White balcony.
I recognized it.
The condominium.
The agreement in Dawson's folder.
Same place.
My stomach dropped.
“They bought the condo for Oliver.”
Dawson nodded slowly.
“Or for themselves.”
Maybe both.
Then I remembered the property address.
Same neighborhood as our children's school.
Six minutes from my house.
Ryan had not been building another life in another city.
He had been building it around the corner.
My phone buzzed again.
Unknown number.
This time:
My name is Nora Price. I was Lena Harper's attorney. Do not meet Ryan or Megan alone. They have been trying to change Oliver's guardianship and access his trust. Call me.
