“Margaret told Ryan that I abandoned him because I didn’t want the responsibility of a family,” Thomas said, his voice dropping an octave. “She told the papers, she told the courts, and she told our friends.”

“But you didn’t,” I said.

“I fought for custody for two years,” Thomas said. “But her family had the money to buy every lawyer in the state. They fabricated police reports. They froze my accounts, just like they did to you today.”

He touched the yellowed envelope with a rough, calloused finger.

“I kept everything, Emma,” he whispered. “Every original bank statement, every hidden court transcript, and the legal agreements Margaret signed to force me out of this city.”

He began to untie the red string.

“There are things in here that prove Ryan’s entire childhood was a lie constructed by his mother,” Thomas said. “Documents that will destroy her credibility in any court in Colorado.”

Before he could pull the papers out, my phone began to ring.

The screen lit up with Laura’s name.

I answered it immediately, pressing the phone to my ear. “Laura? Did you land?”