“If Emma’s mother was Diane Blake…”
“And her grandmother is Regina Blake…”
“Then this is not a family without resources.”
“What are you saying?”
“I’m saying Emma may have a grandmother worth around forty million dollars.”
“A woman who knew she existed.”
“And still left her in the system.”
Jack stared through the window.
Emma was sitting with Darlene.
Drawing.
“What do we do?”
“We find out why.”
Jack looked at Moira.
“Find her.”
“Mr. Carter…”
“Find her.”
“I don’t care what it costs.”
“I don’t care how long.”
“Find her.”
Moira studied him.
Then nodded.
“I will.”
Inside the diner, Emma looked up.
She found Jack through the window.
And she waved.
Jack waved back.
At that moment, the white sedan outside started.
Richard Coyle drove away.
Moira watched.
“That was fast.”
“A state case worker leaving without the child?”
“That doesn’t happen.”
“Someone called him off.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know yet.”
“But I’ll find out.”
They went back inside.
Emma smiled when Jack returned.
“Are we staying here?”
“For a little while.”
“Okay.”
“I like it here.”
“Darlene is nice.”
Darlene smiled from behind the counter.
Time passed slowly.
Jack drank coffee.
Emma ate another waffle.
She saved half in a napkin.
Jack noticed.
He didn’t say anything.
He understood.
Kids who don’t know when their next meal comes learn to save everything.
Then Preacher called.
“Jack.”
“Yeah?”
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“Someone was in your trailer.”
Jack froze.
“Explain.”
“Front door was unlocked.”
“Nothing stolen.”
“But someone searched your file cabinet.”
“Someone knew you were bringing her home.”
Jack looked across the booth at Emma.
Someone knew.
Before he did.
He called Moira.
“Mr. Carter?”
“Regina Blake knew.”
“What?”
“The case worker.”
“The lady with the clipboard.”
“She was calling Mrs. Blake.”
“Emma heard them.”
“Multiple times.”
A long silence.
“If that’s true…”
“That changes everything.”
“How?”
“She knew about Emma.”
“She knew where she was.”
“And she still did nothing.”
Jack looked at Emma.
“Stay in the diner.”
“Do not move.”
“Do not take Emma anywhere.”
“You are dealing with someone with resources.”
“And I need you surrounded by witnesses.”
“Understood.”
“Give me two hours.”
“Two hours.”
The fight had just changed.
This was no longer about saving a little girl from the system.
It was about finding out who had been watching her all along.