Evan clutched the back of my uniform.
“He locks me downstairs whenever Mom goes to work.”
Ryan stepped toward us. Two officers blocked him immediately.
I lowered my voice.
“Evan, who is this man?”
He swallowed hard.
“My stepdad. His name is Ryan.”
Ryan shouted, “That kid ruins everything! Ask his mother!”
Evan cried harder.
“She doesn’t know.”
I turned slightly toward him.
“Doesn’t know what?”
Evan reached into his pocket.
He pulled out a small house key attached to a plastic hospital bracelet.
The moment Ryan saw it, the color drained from his face.
“Give me that.”
Evan stepped farther away.
“My real dad gave this to me before he disappeared.”
