My Father Threw Me Into an October Storm at Fifteen—Three Hours Later, the Police Called, and His Face Turned White

For several seconds, nobody in the consultation room moved.

Richard Walls stared at the nurse as though she had just announced that the dead had returned.

Karen was the first to speak.

“That doesn’t make any sense.””

Her voice was sharp enough to make the nurse glance at her.

“What doesn’t make sense?”” Detective Harris asked.

Karen swallowed.

“Emily’s confused. She’s been through something terrible. She probably doesn’t even know what she’s saying.””

Detective Harris watched her carefully.

“You haven’t spoken to your sister yet, have you?””

“No.””

“Then how do you know she’s confused?””

Karen’s mouth opened.

Nothing came out.

Richard looked at his daughter.

For seventeen years, he had thought he understood Karen. She was the organized one, the responsible one, the girl who remembered birthdays and earned good grades. After his wife died, Karen had become his little partner in keeping the household together.

Emily, by comparison, had always been quieter.

She was the one who apologized even when someone else bumped into her. The one who stayed late after class to help teachers carry books. The one who could spend an entire afternoon drawing in her bedroom without asking for anything.

Richard had mistaken that quietness for weakness.

Now he wasn’t sure what he had mistaken Karen’s tears for.

“Let me see Emily,” he said.

Detective Harris stepped between him and the door.

“You may be able to see her later. First, I need to speak with her privately.””

“I’m her father.””

“And she’s a minor receiving emergency treatment after being found unconscious in freezing weather. I need to establish whether she feels safe speaking with you present.””

Richard’s expression tightened.

“Are you suggesting I hurt my daughter?””

“I’m suggesting we establish the facts before making assumptions.””

Karen folded her arms.

“This is ridiculous. Dad, we should leave. Emily is going to make everything worse if you let her keep talking.””

Harris turned toward her.

“Miss Walls, I’d like you to wait outside with the hospital staff.””

“Why?””

“Because I asked you to.””

Karen looked at her father, expecting him to intervene.

He didn’t.

For the first time in her life, Richard allowed another adult to tell Karen no without rushing to defend her.

She snatched her purse from the chair.

“Fine. But don’t blame me when she starts lying again.””

She marched into the corridor.

The door closed behind her.

Detective Harris waited until her footsteps faded.

Then she turned to Richard.

“Mr. Walls, your daughter is awake. A nurse will take you to the family waiting area while I speak with her.””

Richard’s jaw tightened.

“I need to explain something about that note.””

“Then you’ll have an opportunity to do so after I’ve spoken with Emily.””

He looked down at the photograph of Susan Mercer.

Her smile was frozen in time, her hand resting on her husband’s shoulder.

Richard had not seen that photograph in six years.

He had believed it was destroyed.

“How did this get into her backpack?”” he whispered.

“That is precisely what we’re investigating.””

Richard raised his eyes.

“Detective, if you find the original document, you need to understand that it could put someone in danger.””

Harris’s expression changed.

“Are you threatening someone?””

“No.”” His voice broke.

“I’m trying to tell you that you don’t understand what happened six years ago.””

“Then start explaining.””

He glanced at the door.

“I can’t. Not here.””

“Then I suggest you prepare yourself to explain it somewhere else.””

She left him standing beside the table.

For the first time since the police had called, Richard had no one to tell him what to do next.

Across the corridor, Karen sat on a plastic chair and typed furiously into her phone.

Her first message went to a contact saved as *M*.

The police found the pouch.

She stared at the screen, waiting.

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Then a reply arrived.

What did they see?

Karen’s fingers trembled.

Photographs. The note. They know about Daniel.

The response came almost immediately.

Did Emily see anything?

Karen looked toward the consultation-room door.

I don’t know.

A minute passed.

Then another message appeared.

Do not let her talk to them alone.

Karen swallowed.

Dad is here.

Then keep him distracted. If Emily tells them about the original, everything is over.

Karen’s face went pale.

She typed a final question.

What am I supposed to do?

The reply came back.

You know what you have to do.

Karen dropped the phone into her purse.

She stood and walked toward the nurses’ station.

A nurse was checking a computer screen.

“Excuse me,” Karen said, forcing a small smile.

“I’m Emily’s sister. Can you tell me whether she’s allowed visitors?””

“Not yet. The detective is speaking with her.””

“She’s only fifteen. She gets anxious when she’s alone.””

The nurse looked at her.