Can you contact the mother?” Reed asked. Julian dialed the number. Eleanor finally answered. “What’s going on, Julian? I’m in the middle of treatment,” she said, annoyed. “I’m at the hospital with Lily,” he replied, putting her on speakerphone. “Why didn’t you take her to the doctor?” “It wasn’t necessary. It was just a shock.” “How did it happen?” “She fell.” “Lily told me you pushed her,” Julian said, looking at the detective.

Silence. Then Eleanor’s voice turned icy. “She’s a liar. Children make up stories for attention.” “She has finger-shaped bruises on her arms,” ​​Julian added. “I caught her to stop her from falling. That’s enough. What do you want? To take my daughter away?” Officer Grant was taking notes.

Dr. Hale returned: no fractures, but the infection was serious. She would have to remain hospitalized for at least 48 hours. “She should have been treated within 24 hours,” the doctor told the police. Hearing “police” on the phone, Eleanor’s tone changed. “The police? Are you crazy? I’m coming, and you’ll regret it.” She hung up.

Julian thought the worst was over. He was wrong. He went home to get some clean clothes for Lily. Rummaging through a backpack hidden at the back of the closet, he found two passports—Eleanor’s and Lily’s—and a printed itinerary: a one-way ticket to Madrid, departing the next morning. Underneath the tickets was a handwritten note from Eleanor:   “If you say a word, your father will disappear forever. If you speak, I’ll take you somewhere he can’t find us.”

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