"We haven't been able to locate him, sir," he answers apologetically. "But the nurse mentioned that Ivy's youngest sister came by to visit. We haven't spoken with her yet."

"Take me to her."

He nods, and thirty minutes later, I'm standing on the doorstep of the pathetic structure the Moreno's call home. I've been to this house many times. Sat in the office with Eli and said hello to his family in passing. I remember it vividly. Back then, it looked very much like a family home. Now, it looks like it should be burned to the ground.

The door opens, and Mrs. Moreno squeaks when she sees the grim reaper standing on the threshold to greet her. She never could look directly at me. Not even when my face wasn’t a skull.

"Where is Evangeline?" I demand.

"Eva?" she repeats, her voice too high.

"Bring her to me. Now."

She steps back, nodding fast as her hands begin to tremble. "Of course, Mr. De La Rosa. I'll bring her to you."

She leads us into the sitting room, offering us a drink, to which I don't reply. After a moment, she scurries away in search of her daughter.

"Search the house," I tell Marco.

He nods and disappears while I stand in the middle of the sitting room, scanning the space for any signs of my wife. After a few more moments, the smallest Moreno girl enters the room, eyes cast down, cheeks red.

"Mr. De La Rosa," she grits out. "My mother said you'd like to speak to me."

The mother she speaks of sent her into the room alone, courageous as she is. She's too afraid to face me herself but does not hesitate to send her young child to speak with me. That tells me everything I need to know about the coward of a woman.

"Evangeline." I glance down at her, the little girl much like a younger version of Ivy. This miniature human reminds me of that girl, the one who stumbled into her father's office in tears so many years ago. The one who gifted me a pen and didn't hesitate to look me directly in the eye, unlike most of the people in my life.

Evangeline tips her chin up, squaring her shoulders. "What do you want?"

My lip tilts at the corner, despite the gravity of the situation. She is very much like Ivy, indeed.

"Where is your brother?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "He hasn't been home since I got here."

"Tell me about the hospital. You went to visit your sister. What happened when you were there?"

She swallows and shakes her head. "Nothing. It was just a visit."