Page 1 — The Boy Who Wouldn’t Let Go
Detective Mark Reyes arrived fast—too fast for this hour—which told Sarah the situation had already escalated beyond “possible abuse.”
Reyes didn’t march in like TV cops do. He sat down. He lowered his voice. He made himself smaller.
“Evan,” he said, “I’m Mark. I’m here to keep you and Lily safe.”
Evan’s hands were still on the blanket wrapped around the baby. White knuckles. Like if he let go, the world would take her.
“Where do you live?” Reyes asked.
Evan gave an address without hesitation. Like he’d memorized it for a worst-case scenario.
“Who is ‘he,’ Evan?”
Evan’s mouth opened… then closed. His eyes flicked to the doorway like the word itself might summon someone.
Dr. Patel stepped in softly. “You’re safe here. Doors lock. Cameras. Security. No one can walk in and take you.”
Evan whispered, “He doesn’t knock.”
Reyes looked at Sarah, then at Dr. Patel, and made the call every child-abuse detective learns to make quickly:
Don’t debate. Don’t delay. Don’t “wait for more details.”
He spoke into his radio. “Units to the address now. Welfare check. Possible immediate danger. Kick-ready.”
Evan’s entire body tensed.
“You’re sending them there?” he asked, fear rising. “No—no—he’ll hear—”
Reyes leaned in. “Evan, listen to me. You got Lily out. That was step one. We’re doing step two. You’re not alone anymore.”
And for the first time, Evan’s expression cracked. Not crying—just that brief, devastated look of a kid who’s been alone in an adult nightmare for too long.
Keep reading—because when police reached the house, the front porch looked normal. Too normal. And that’s what terrified them 👇
