“It wasn’t there when I came back from the station house,” Rina said. “I would have noticed it. Would you like some coffee or tea?”

“I’d love some herbal tea. I’ll make it. I’m antsy. I need something to do.” He filled the kettle with water and placed it on the stove. Then he opened the tape end of the envelope with a knife but didn’t look inside. “If it concerns Terry, Gabe would want to know. I need to wake him up.”

“Okay. Want me to wait here?”

“No, I want you to come with me for moral support.”

Together they went back into the living room. Decker sat down on the edge of the sofa but even that didn’t rouse the teen. Finally, he placed a hand on his shoulder and gently shook him. “Gabe.” Again: “Gabe, it’s Lieutenant Decker.”

The boy bolted upward. “I’m up, I’m up.” He rubbed his eyes and groped for his glasses on the end table. When he found them, he put them on. “I’m up.”

“I need to turn on the light,” Decker said.

“Go ahead.” Gabe squinted with the illumination. “What’s going on?”

Decker handed him the envelope. “Sorry to wake you, but this was sitting on my front door when I came in tonight. I thought you’d want to look at it. I opened it up but I didn’t take anything out of it.”

“What is it?”

“I don’t know.”

Gabe slowly removed the papers. There were a stack of them—something about power of attorney to his dad for his businesses. But then he saw the handwritten letter. His hands started shaking as he read the note.

My dearest love, Gabriel:

By the time you read this, I should be far away, unreachable and safe. There are no words to tell you what happened and why I did this, but I can only say that I truly felt I had no other option. Do not try to look for me, and if Lieutenant Decker is searching for me, please tell him not to waste his valuable time trying to locate me. I am gone and do not want to be found.

With all my heart, I apologize for what I’ve put you through, not only for the past week, but for the past fourteen years. You are so special and so exceptional, you deserve only good things and happiness. I hope I have left you in a safe place, away from the conflict that your crazy parent had foisted upon you. You may not understand my motivation now, but I hope sometime in the future, when you are an adult, I can reconcile with you and explain what I have done and why I did it.