I called Rachel again.

Owen answered.

“Laura.”

His voice sounded painfully familiar.

I had heard that voice comforting me at Grant's memorial.

I had heard it telling Miles stories about his father.

I had trusted it.

“Where is Rachel?”

“She's fine.”

“Put her on.”

“Not yet.”

“Where is my son?”

“Also fine.”

Grant held out his hand for the phone.

I shook my head.

Owen continued.

“I need you to come home.”

“Why?”

“Because we've all been lied to long enough.”

My eyes moved to Grant.

“You knew he was alive.”

Silence.

Then Owen sighed.

“So you found him.”

Grant's jaw clenched.

“You knew.”

“Yes.”

The word hit harder than I expected.

“You watched us suffer.”

Owen's voice hardened.

“Don't pretend Grant is innocent.”

“Put Miles on the phone.”

“I'll put him on when you get here.”

“If you touch him—”

“I would never hurt Miles.”

“You already have.”

That silenced him.

Grant whispered.

“Keep him talking.”

I nodded.

“Why did you betray your brother?”

“He isn't my brother.”

Grant flinched.

Owen continued.

“My parents took him in because the government paid them.”

“That isn't what happened.”

“You don't know what happened.”

“Then tell me.”

Owen laughed once.

“Ask Grant why my father died.”

I looked at Grant.

His face told me immediately that there was history I hadn't heard.

“What does he mean?”

Grant shook his head.

“Not now.”

Owen heard him.

“He's there.”

The line went quiet.

Then Owen spoke directly to Grant.

“Hello, Evan.”

Grant took the phone from me.

“Let them go.”

“You always did like giving orders.”

“Owen.”

“Bring the drive.”

“No.”

“Then Laura loses her sister.”

I grabbed Grant's arm.

Owen continued.

“And Miles learns what it feels like to lose another parent.”

Grant's entire body went rigid.

“You said you'd never hurt him.”

“I won't.”

Owen's tone softened.

“But Vale's people aren't sentimental.”

A faint sound came through the phone.

Rachel crying.

Then Miles shouted.

“Mom!”

I grabbed the phone.

“Miles!”

“I'm okay!”

Something struck the receiver.

Owen returned.

“You have one hour.”

The call ended.

I looked at Grant.

“We're going.”

“No.”

“Our son is in that house.”

“And that's exactly why we can't walk in there carrying what Owen wants.”

I stepped closer.

“I lost you once because I didn't know what was happening.”

My voice shook.

“I am not losing Miles because you decided I couldn't handle the truth.”

Grant stared at me.

Then something changed in his expression.

Maybe he finally understood that I was no longer the woman he'd left three years earlier.

I had raised Miles alone.

I had survived grief.

I had buried a husband without a body.

I had learned how to keep moving while half my life was missing.

Grant nodded.

“Okay.”

He picked up the flash drive.

“But we're not giving Owen the real one.”