“I have some information,” Paul’s voice came through the speaker, faint but clear enough for me to hear in the quiet space.

“Tell me,” Ethan said, his eyes still fixed on Mama through the glass.

“We found the landlord, Carl Brenner,” Paul said. “My security team located him at a tavern near the river. He’s been drinking, but we have eyes on him.”

“Don’t let him leave,” Ethan said, his voice dropping to a harsh whisper. “Call the police. Tell them he illegally evicted a child in sub-zero temperatures.”

“I’m already coordinating with the precinct,” Paul said. “But Ethan, there is something else. Something much bigger.”

Ethan turned his back to the glass, his brow furrowing.

“What is it?”

“I started digging into Mary’s past legal records to see if there were any old disputes we could use against Brenner,” Paul said. “And I found something from five years ago.”

He paused, the sound of papers rustling on his end of the line.

“She filed a paternity petition, Ethan.”

Ethan’s entire body went rigid.

“I never received any court summons, Paul,” he said, his voice rising slightly before he checked himself. “We would have known.”