“What is it, Samuel?” I asked, a new wave of anxiety washing over me.

Samuel didn’t answer immediately.

He turned the page, his fingers moving quickly now, scanning the dense legal text.

“This isn’t just a standard fake agreement,” Samuel whispered.

He tapped his finger against the paper.

“There is a hidden clause in here that changes everything.”

“What does it say?” I demanded, leaning over his shoulder.

“It’s disguised as an administrative provision,” Samuel said, his voice tightening.

“But if you read the definitions section on page four, it links back to this.”

“It appears to outline a specific process for custody.”

“Let me read this carefully,” he muttered, tracing the lines with his pen.

The room was completely silent except for the rain.

Margaret’s hands were trembling now, though she tried to hide them in her pockets.

“That document is private,” Margaret said, her voice rising.

“You have no right to look at it.”

“It’s evidence in a criminal conspiracy, Mrs. Lawson,” Samuel said, not looking up.

“And it’s about to blow your defense wide open.”

I watched Samuel’s face as he read.