Page 52 of Main Event

“What do they want?” she asks.

“To show me they can reach anyone in this building or in my life.” I look at the files. “And to make sure I understand that doing nothing isn’t an option anymore.”

She nods once. “What do you need from me?”

“Don’t tell anyone about these files. Not staff, not volunteers, not anyone.” I take my phone out and photograph both files, every page, in sequence. “I need to make some calls. And I need you to act completely normal today—programs run as scheduled. Nothing changes visibly.”

“And the girls?”

I think about Deja coming through the door at three-fifteen the way she always does. I think about Kelly at the Woods’ house, fifteen years old, counting months.

“They don’t know anything is wrong,” I say. “I want to keep it that way for as long as possible.”

Mrs. Alvarez picks up both files and holds them out to me. “Take them,” she says. “I don’t want them on my desk.”

I take them.

I call Bill from the parking lot before I go back inside.

I tell him about both files. The sealed record reference for Kelly. The center’s server is accessed remotely, after hours, and is precise enough to pull specific individuals rather than bulk data.

Bill is quiet for a long time after I finish.

“Kelly’s sealed record shouldn’t be findable,” he says. “Not without either inside access to the court system or someone who already knew the record existed and searched specifically for it.”

“They knew,” I say. “They’ve known about Kelly since the night at my house. Evelyn’s network was watching Jackson. They know what happened in that kitchen.”

He stops again. “This changes the protection picture significantly.”

“I know.”

“Luke’s parents need to know their address is in these files.”

“I know.” I look at the center entrance. Through the glass, I can see Mrs. Alvarez at her desk, already on the phone with the security company. She didn’t wait for me to ask. “Bill—they’re using Kelly as leverage against Luke. The adoption delays, now this. They’ve been working that angle for going on two years.”

“Yes,” Bill says. “I think you’re right.”

“We need to move faster,” I say. “On everything.”

“Agreed. I’ll call Daniel’s attorney today.”

I hang up and sit in my car for another minute. Then I call Luke.

He picks up between rounds. I can hear the gym, Reyes saying something in the background, the bags and bells of a space built for maximum effort and no rest.

“I need you to listen,” I say. “And I need you to stay in the gym while I tell you this because there’s nothing you can do about it right now, and Reyes needs you focused.”

He takes a moment to focus. “Tell me.”

“Someone accessed the center’s server last night. They printed files and left them on Mrs. Alvarez’s desk.” I pause. “Deja’s file. And Kelly’s.”

The gym sounds continue around him. He doesn’t make a sound for a long moment.

“Kelly,” he says.

“They found the sealed record reference. They know she was a witness.”

Another silence. When he speaks, his voice is level in a way that costs something. “My parents.”