Chapter 18 - TYLER KNOCKS AGAIN
Sarah had not seen Tyler in years.
He had respected every boundary.
No surprise visits.
No attempts at forgiveness.
No public performance.
One final letter.
Then silence.
Sarah contacted the former juvenile liaison.
“Did Tyler send something to me?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Do you know where he works?”
There was hesitation.
“I can't give you private information.”
“I’m not asking for his address.”
Another pause.
“He’s still doing HVAC work.”
Sarah looked at the recreation center’s recent maintenance invoices.
One contractor name appeared repeatedly.
Brooks Mechanical Services.
Her hands went cold.
Tyler had been inside Mason’s workplace.
Sarah called Mason.
“Did you know Tyler Brooks worked at the center?”
Silence.
“Mason.”
“Yes.”
Sarah stood.
“For how long?”
“Maybe six months.”
“And you never told me?”
“He wasn’t working with children. He serviced the heating and ventilation systems.”
“That wasn't your decision to make.”
“I knew what you'd think.”
“You mean you knew I deserved to know.”
Mason became angry.
“He did his job, Aunt Sarah. He never bothered anyone.”
“This isn’t about whether he behaved.”
“Isn’t it?”
Sarah stopped.
Mason continued.
“You always say people are more than the worst thing they've done.”
“I said children can grow.”
“He did.”
“That does not mean he belongs in my life.”
“He wasn’t in your life.”
“He was in yours.”
The distinction landed.
That evening, someone knocked on Sarah’s door.
She knew before opening it.
Tyler stood outside.
Twenty-four now.
Older than Emma would ever become.
He held nothing in his hands.
“I won't come inside.”
Sarah said nothing.
“I didn't send the envelope.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because I know who did.”
Sarah waited.
Tyler looked toward the street.
“A maintenance guy named Luis.”
“Why?”
“He found paper reports in an old storage cabinet after Nolan ordered records destroyed.”
Sarah's heart quickened.
“Why would Nolan destroy them?”
“I don't know.”
“But?”
Tyler nodded.
“I saw him accessing the employee computers after hours.”
“Did you report it?”
“No.”
Sarah’s expression hardened.
Tyler did not defend himself.
“I should have.”
“Why didn't you?”
“Because I told myself it wasn't my business.”
The sentence hung between them.
Tyler swallowed.
“I've spent eleven years learning exactly how dangerous that sentence can be.”
Sarah hated how much she understood him.
“Will you tell the investigators?”
“Yes.”
“Without asking me for anything?”
“Yes.”
“No letter. No forgiveness. No conversation about Emma.”
Tyler nodded.
“I understand.”
He turned to leave.
Then stopped.
“There’s something else.”
Sarah said nothing.
“The night before Caleb was locked in that room, Nolan wasn't alone at the center.”
“Who was with him?”
Tyler looked at her.
“Mason's father.”
Sarah went still.
Her sister Rachel’s husband.
Greg.
“What was Greg doing there?”
“I don't know.”
Tyler paused.
May you like
“But I saw him carrying the box containing the old incident files.”
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