MY TEN-YEAR-OLD BROTHER CALLED ME DURING A BLIZZARD, SCREAMING, “SISSY, THE TWINS WON’T WAKE UP!” WHAT POLICE FOUND IN OUR BASEMENT EXPOSED A SECRET OUR MOTHER HAD BURIED FOR SIX MONTHS.

“Get me to the hospital. Now!””

Detective Harris ran toward the staircase, shouting instructions into his radio.

I followed him, nearly slipping on the concrete steps.

“What's happening?”” I demanded.

“We have officers approaching the pediatric ward. Your brother is being protected.””

“Who is Daniel Parker?””

Harris glanced at me.

“That's what we're about to find out.””

I pulled out my phone and called the hospital.

A nurse answered.

“This is Emily Parker. I'm Toby's sister. Someone just entered the pediatric ward looking for him. Where is my brother?””

“Ma'am, security has been notified. Your brother is in his room.””

“Is anyone with him?””

“The nursing staff.””

“Please don't let anyone near him.””

I heard a commotion in the background.

Then a man's voice.

“I'm his uncle! You have no right to keep me away from my family!””

My blood turned cold.

I recognized the voice.

Not personally.

But I'd heard it on the recording.

It was the same voice that had spoken briefly before the crash.

I shouted into the phone.

“GET TOBY OUT OF THERE!””

The nurse hung up.

By the time we reached the hospital, two police cruisers were parked outside the emergency entrance.

Detective Harris ran inside.

I followed.

A security guard was standing near the elevators.

“Where is the man?”” Harris asked.

“Third floor. He's being detained.””

“Did he reach the children?””

The guard shook his head.

“He tried to enter the twins' room, but the nurse stopped him.””

I rushed upstairs.

Toby was sitting in a small consultation room with a nurse.

When he saw me, he ran into my arms.

“Sissy!””

I held him tightly.

“Are you okay?””

He nodded, but his eyes were frightened.

“He said he was our uncle.””

I knelt in front of him.

“Did you recognize him?””

Toby hesitated.

Then he whispered, “Yes.””

My stomach tightened.

“You've seen him before?””

He nodded.

“Dad showed me a picture once. He said if that man ever came near us, I should tell you immediately.””

I felt my heart pounding.

“What did Dad call him?””

Toby looked toward the door.

“Uncle Daniel.””

I hugged him again.

Across the hallway, officers escorted a man in handcuffs toward the elevator.

He was tall, broad-shouldered, and wore a dark leather jacket.

His hair was streaked with gray.

As he passed the consultation room, he turned his head.

His eyes met mine.

He smiled.

Not nervously.

Not apologetically.

He smiled like a man who believed he still controlled the situation.

“Emily,” he said.

I stepped into the hallway.

“Don't you dare say my name.””

He chuckled.

“You've grown up.””

“Did you try to kill my father?””

His smile disappeared.

Detective Harris stepped between us.

“Mr. Parker, you need to remain silent.””

Daniel looked at him.

“Detective, you have no idea what you're involved in.””

Harris tightened his grip on Daniel's arm.

“Then explain it at the station.””

Daniel turned toward me again.

“Your father was a liar, Emily. Everything he told you was designed to turn you against your family.””

“You rammed his car.””

His jaw tightened.

“You should ask your mother what really happened that night.””

Then he was taken away.

I stood motionless.

Toby came to my side.

“Was that really Uncle Daniel?””

“Yes.””

“Why did Dad say he was dangerous?””

I couldn't answer.

A nurse approached.

“Emily, there's something you should know. Before security stopped him, that man handed us a document claiming he had legal authority to make medical decisions for the twins.””

I stared at her.

“What?””

She showed me a photocopy.

It was a guardianship authorization.

My mother's signature appeared at the bottom.

It granted Daniel Parker temporary authority over Liam and Leo.

The date was two weeks earlier.

I felt sick.

“Why would Mom give him custody?””

The nurse looked uncomfortable.

“He claimed the children's mother was unavailable and that he was helping the family.””

I took the document.

There was something strange about the signature.

My mother had always written her capital M with a long first stroke.

This signature didn't match.

I showed it to Harris.

He examined it.

“This could be forged.””

“Can you check?””

“We'll send it for examination.””

Then Toby tugged my sleeve.

“Sissy, there's something else.””

I crouched beside him.

“What is it?””

“When Uncle Daniel came into the house last month, he asked me where Dad kept his keys.””

I froze.

“Which keys?””

“The little blue one.””

I stared at him.

“Did you tell him?””

Toby shook his head.

“No. Dad told me never to tell anyone.””

I kissed his forehead.

“You did the right thing.””

Then my phone rang.

It was Officer Daniels.

“Emily, we have a development involving your mother.””

“What now?””

“She has disappeared from the station.””

My stomach dropped.

“What do you mean disappeared?””

“She was released temporarily while arrangements were made for her statement. An officer was escorting her to a separate interview room when someone called her phone. She walked outside and got into a vehicle.””

“Who was driving?””

Daniels paused.

“Daniel Parker's vehicle.””

I stared at the corridor.

“But Daniel is in custody!””

“Exactly.””

I felt the room spin.

“Then whose vehicle was it?””

“We're checking the registration.””

A moment later, another message appeared on my phone.

It was from my mother.

Emily, don't trust Daniel. Don't trust Richard. And whatever you do, don't let the police open the family photograph.