Chapter 4: What Was Hidden in the Coffee Machine
The office was barely larger than a closet.
An old desktop computer sat on a metal desk.
Bills were stacked beside a broken printer.
A dead coffee maker occupied the corner.
Curtis stood in the doorway.
"Nobody touches anything.""
Deputy Hall ignored him.
She entered.
"Step aside.""
Curtis moved reluctantly.
Ray remained outside with Noah.
Duke whispered, "How does the kid know about the money?""
Noah didn't answer.
Lena crouched beside him.
"You don't have to tell us everything at once.""
Noah looked at her.
"He counts it at night.""
Ray heard that.
"What?""
Noah nodded.
"After everybody leaves.""
"How much?""
"I don't know.""
"Did you see cash?""
"Sometimes.""
Curtis shouted from inside.
"He's making it up.""
Deputy Hall opened the cabinet.
Nothing.
She checked the drawers.
Nothing.
Then she noticed the old coffee machine.
It hadn't been plugged in for years.
She lifted it.
A metal tin sat beneath it.
Deputy Hall opened the tin.
Cash.
Envelopes.
Receipts.
Bank deposit slips.
And a folded stack of money transfer confirmations.
Ray could see Curtis's shoulders collapse.
One of the deputies spread the papers across the desk.
Monthly transfers.
Amounts from several hundred to more than a thousand dollars.
Each marked for Noah Miller's food, transportation, education, and living expenses.
Except none of those things had happened.
No school.
No transportation.
No proper bedroom.
No money in Noah's hands.
Curtis whispered, "That's mine.""
Deputy Hall looked up.
"These were sent for a child.""
"I'm taking care of him.""
Noah suddenly spoke.
"You told me Grandma didn't send anything.""
Curtis stared at him.
Noah's eyes filled with tears.
"You said she forgot me.""
The room went silent.
Ray stepped toward Noah.
"She didn't.""
Noah nodded.
"She sent things.""
"What things?""
"Christmas cards.""
"Did Curtis give them to you?""
Noah shook his head.
"I saw them once.""
Ray looked at Curtis.
"Where?""
Curtis didn't answer.
Noah pointed at a plastic storage box near the desk.
"That one.""
The deputy opened it.
Inside were letters.
Cards.
School photographs.
Birthday checks.
A package that had never been opened.
Noah recognized the handwriting on an envelope and immediately began crying.
"My grandma.""
He picked it up with both hands.
There was a photograph inside.
Noah at six years old.
His mother beside him.
His grandmother behind them.
Noah pressed the photograph against his chest.
"I thought they didn't want me.""
Ray looked away.
He couldn't watch that without feeling something in his throat.
Deputy Hall gathered the documents.
"Mr. Curtis, you're going to need to explain all this.""
Curtis stared at the floor.
Then he suddenly said, "The mother signed everything.""
Ray looked up.
"What?""
"She gave me permission.""
Noah shook his head.
"No, she didn't.""
Curtis turned.
"You were eleven. You wouldn't know.""
"I remember.""
"What do you remember?""
Noah's voice became steady.
"Mom told me never to sign anything Curtis gave me.""
Curtis went still.
Ray asked, "Why?""
Noah looked at the letter again.
"Because she said he had already lied once.""
Deputy Hall asked, "About what?""
Noah pointed to the paper.
"It doesn't say.""
"Read the rest.""
Noah did.
"If Curtis tells you I made a mistake with the life insurance, don't believe him. The money was for you.""
Ray's eyes narrowed.
Life insurance.
He looked at the envelope.
"Does Curtis know about this?""
Noah whispered, "He asked me about it.""
Curtis snapped, "That's not what happened.""
Deputy Hall immediately stopped him.
"Do not interrupt.""
Noah continued.
"If he asks where the blue folder is, tell him you don't know. It has the truth about your school and the money. I gave it to someone I trust.""
Ray looked at Curtis.
"The blue folder.""
Curtis looked terrified.
"Where is it?""
Noah shook his head.
"I don't know.""
A long silence followed.
Then the storm outside intensified.
Rain battered the windows.
The lights flickered again.
One of the deputies checked his radio.
Static.
Deputy Hall sighed.
"We're going to have to transport Noah to a safe location.""
Curtis stepped forward.
"No.""
Ray stared at him.
"You don't get to decide that.""
Curtis looked straight at Noah.
"If you leave with them, you'll never see your things again.""
Noah stared back.
Then, for the first time all night, the boy didn't look afraid.
He looked angry.
"Those aren't my things.""
Curtis blinked.
Noah held up the photograph.
"Those are my things.""
He turned toward the deputies.
"I want to go with you.""
Curtis took a step.
Deputy Hall stopped him.
"No.""
Curtis backed away.
But then he smiled.
It was small.
Cold.
Confident.
Ray noticed.
He knew that kind of smile.
Curtis wasn't finished.
Not even close.
Outside, a truck started its engine.
Another vehicle pulled into the lot.
A woman got out.
She ran through the rain.
May you like
Noah stared through the glass.
"That's my aunt.""
