Chapter 11 - EMMA AND VICTOR
Emma stayed with child services temporarily.
But she cried whenever Victor left the room.
That created an absurd problem.
Victor Kane, feared criminal figure, became the only adult she recognized after Laura disappeared.
Ryan hated it.
Victor hated it more.
He sat in a child interview room while Emma stacked blocks.
“Red.”
Victor handed red.
“Blue.”
Blue.
Then Emma said:
“Doggy?”
Victor froze.
She had heard his earlier joke.
Marcus looked sick.
Victor crouched.
“No dogs.”
Emma stared.
“Fish?”
“No fish.”
Then:
“Mommy?”
Victor’s face changed.
“No answer yet.”
Emma did not understand.
She climbed into his lap.
Victor looked at Ryan through the observation glass.
Ryan saw something unexpected.
Not softness exactly.
Restraint.
Victor did not know how to hold a toddler.
He kept both hands visible.
Like someone handling evidence.
Then Emma put a block on his head.
Marcus laughed.
Victor stared at him.
Marcus stopped.
Emma giggled.
Victor left the block there.
May you like
That image later became evidence of nothing.
But Ryan remembered it.
