“I’m sorry,” Grant says. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” He can’t say more, the tears welling up inside him, and suddenly big Mike is hugging him, holding him close, saying, “It’s not your fault, Grant. It is not your fault.”

They step inside to the foyer, and Mike shuts the door.

“Everything that happened with Danielle…” Mike starts to say.

Grant says, “I didn’t know anything.”

“I know. Of course not.” Mike doesn’t seem to know what else to say. “It’s not your fault.”

“Can I talk to Peter, please?”

“I’m not sure he’s up for a visitor. Finding what looks to be the murder weapon, it upset him.”

“I understand.”

“Hold on.” He pats Grant on the shoulder and goes upstairs. Grant can hear soft talking and Peter clearly saying “no,” and he closes his eyes. He hears more talking, Mike pleading his case. After a few more moments, Mike reappears at the top of the stairs and gestures Grant up.

Grant walks up the stairs.

“Grant, does your mom know you’re here?” Mike asks quietly.

“She’s at the hospital with Julia. I just wanted to talk with you and Peter.”

“You shouldn’t be alone.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” And he wasn’t sure he could bear for Mike to worry about him. “She’ll be back soon. Can I ask you a question?”

“Yes.”

“Did Danielle ever talk to you about my adoption?”

He hesitates. “Not really. What would there be to say?”

“I just thought maybe she said something. If it was weird in any way.”

“She said your mom kept a journal about the adoption.”

“Yeah. I’ve never seen it.” Grant wonders where this journal is now. “But Mom says she didn’t keep one.”

“Huh. Danielle said she wrote a note to you in it. I remember her telling me that.”

Grant stares, thinking.

Peter appears in the doorway of his room. He looks like he hasn’t slept. “Can we talk for a minute?” Grant asks.

“Do you need me here?” Mike asks, and Peter shakes his head. He nods and goes downstairs.

“What?”

Grant says, “I guess you think it was my dad who tore down your camera and put that bag and pipe in the tree.”

“It seems likely.”

“But that’s all happening here, so why is someone emailing me from Russia?”

“I don’t know. I don’t want to do this anymore, Grant.”

“But I have to know.”

“I understand. But Danielle is dead. This Marland guy is dead and I tried googling him and there’s, like, nothing that matches what we know about this guy. His name is Patrick Marland, but the Patrick Marlands who come up in every search aren’t him. I think this is dangerous. Leave it alone. Let the police handle it.”