“Please,” I said. “Don’t let her destroy anything else.”

“We have officers already stationed at the perimeter,” Miller said. “Nobody is going in or out.”

They nodded to us and walked out of the room, their heavy boots echoing down the quiet hospital corridor.

Marcus turned to Leo.

“I need to get to the courthouse first thing in the morning,” Marcus said. “I’m filing formal charges.”

“Which ones?” Leo asked.

“Kidnapping, extortion, and grand larceny,” Marcus said. “Against both of them.”

My breath hitched. “Can we really do that?”

“With this phone and your journal?” Marcus said. “They don’t have a leg to stand on.”

He began packing his papers back into his briefcase.

“Stay here with the baby,” Marcus said. “Don’t answer any calls from unknown numbers.”

“We won’t,” Leo said.

Marcus shook Leo’s hand, gave me a reassuring nod, and left the room.

The silence returned, heavier this time.

The snow outside was falling faster now, swirling against the glass of the window.

Leo walked over to the crib and looked down at Sam.

He reached in and gently touched our son’s tiny hand.