Chapter 8 - The Promise
Grace had pneumonia.
The doctor said another forty-eight hours without treatment could have become dangerous.
She was admitted that night.
Noah and Ellie sat side by side outside her hospital room.
They still wore the same worn clothes.
A nurse had found socks for them.
Margaret returned from the cafeteria carrying two cups of hot chocolate.
Noah refused his.
“We have to go home.”
“Your mother wants you here.”
“We have school tomorrow.”
Margaret sat beside him.
“I already spoke with your principal.”
Noah looked up sharply.
“You did what?”
“I asked what could be done.”
His expression hardened.
“We don’t need people fixing us.”
Margaret was surprised by the force in his voice.
“I’m not trying to fix you.”
“Yes, you are.”
He stood.
“Everybody does that when they think you’re poor.”
“They give you things.”
“Then they look at you like you should say thank you forever.”
Margaret remained silent.
Noah’s eyes filled with tears he refused to let fall.
“My mom works.”
“She tries.”
“We’re not lazy.”
“I know.”
“You don’t know.”
Margaret looked at him carefully.
“You’re right.”
Noah’s anger softened slightly.
“I don’t know what your life has been like.”
“But I know your mother once helped build something my family benefited from.”
“And when she needed fairness, my family failed her.”
Noah stared at her.
Margaret leaned forward.
“So I’m not promising to rescue you.”
“I’m promising to find the truth.”
Ellie whispered.
“What if the truth is bad?”
Margaret looked at the little girl.
“Then we face it.”
“What if somebody doesn’t want you to find it?”
Margaret thought of Claire.
“They usually don’t.”
Noah sat down again.
Margaret handed him the hot chocolate.
After a moment, he took it.
Across town, Claire Dalton sat alone in her car.
Her phone screen showed a message from Midland Security.
ARCHIVAL REQUEST RECEIVED.
She stared at it.
Then she made a call.
A man answered.
Claire spoke quietly.
May you like
“Daniel.”
“We have a problem.”
