Chapter 5 - The Drive to Milwaukee
I don't remember standing.
One moment I was sitting beside Sofia.
The next, I was on my feet, shouting into the phone.
"Aunt Diane, don't open the door!"
There was silence.
Then my aunt said, "I'm not opening anything."
Another knock.
Harder this time.
"Mrs. Parker," Curtis called.
"We know you're home."
Diane lowered her voice.
"Emily, I'm calling the police."
"Good.
Please do."
The call ended.
I stared at the phone.
Noah was already speaking to Daniel.
"Milwaukee police.
Give them the address and explain there's a possible intimidation incident."
Sofia turned toward me.
"Emily, sit down."
"I can't."
"Your aunt has called the police.
We need to let them handle the situation."
"But Curtis is there because of me."
"He's there because someone sent him."
I looked at her.
"That doesn't make it better."
"No," she said.
"But it matters when we determine who's responsible."
Twenty minutes later, Diane called back.
Police had arrived.
Curtis was gone.
A neighbor had seen a gray sedan leaving the street shortly before the officers reached the house.
Diane was shaken but unharmed.
The laptop was still inside.
I wanted to drive to Milwaukee immediately.
Sofia advised against it.
Noah offered to arrange a courier, but I refused.
"That computer belonged to my mother before she gave it back to me.
It has family pictures on it.
I don't want strangers taking it."
Noah didn't argue.
"Then we'll make arrangements for you to collect it safely."
By noon, I had spoken with an independent attorney recommended through a Chicago legal aid referral network.
Her name was Grace Monroe.
She specialized in family-law cases involving financial control and custody disputes.
She listened to my situation without interrupting.
Then she said something that frightened me almost as much as Ryan's voicemail.
"Emily, we need to establish the current legal situation before making any permanent decisions about Lily's residence."
"What do you mean?"
"Texas may remain the appropriate state for custody proceedings.
And we need to know whether Ryan has filed anything."
My heart sank.
"Can he take her?"
"Not simply because he wants to.
But we need to move carefully, document the threats, and seek appropriate legal protection."
She asked permission to work with a Texas attorney.
I agreed.
Then I asked the question I'd been afraid to ask since leaving Austin.
"Did I do something wrong by bringing Lily to Chicago?"
"There's no existing order you've told me about prohibiting the trip.
But interstate custody questions can be complicated.
Our job is to protect you and Lily while following the law."
For the first time, I understood that escaping Ryan and becoming legally free of his control were not the same thing.
That afternoon, Noah came into the guest apartment carrying a small cardboard box.
"Rosa said Lily could use some toys."
Inside were colorful stacking rings, a soft cloth book, and a wooden animal puzzle.
I looked up.
"How did you get these so quickly?"
"There's a store downstairs."
"Of course there is."
He smiled.
I lifted the cloth book.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Lily crawled toward him, grabbed his shoelace, and tried to eat it.
"Apparently, she's chosen her favorite."
Noah crouched.
"That's Italian leather, young lady."
Lily laughed.
He laughed too.
For a moment, the danger outside felt far away.
Then I asked, "Do you have children?"
His smile faded slightly.
"No."
"Sorry.
I didn't mean to pry."
"It's fine."
He looked at Lily.
"I was engaged once."
"What happened?"
"My fiancée decided marriage to me would mean living with a security detail, public scrutiny, and a schedule I didn't control.
She wasn't wrong."
"Did you love her?"
"At the time, I thought so."
I studied him.
"And now?"
"Now I think we loved the version of our lives we imagined."
It was a surprisingly sad answer.
I looked at Lily, who was chewing the corner of the cloth book.
"Ryan and I used to imagine a lot of things too."
Noah sat on the carpet.
"What kind of things?"
"A small house.
A backyard.
Sunday pancakes.
Nothing expensive."
"Sounds nice."
"It did."
My throat tightened.
"Until every dream came with conditions."
He didn't ask what I meant.
He waited.
"Ryan always said we could buy a house after I stopped questioning his career.
We could have another baby after I learned to be more supportive.
We could visit my mother more often after I apologized for embarrassing him."
I looked away.
"By the end, I couldn't remember the last time I wanted something without asking permission."
Noah was quiet.
Then he said, "What do you want now?"
I stared at him.
It was such a simple question.
And somehow, I didn't know how to answer.
Finally, I said, "I want Lily to grow up without being afraid of her father's footsteps."
Noah nodded.
"That's a good place to start."
The next morning, we traveled to Milwaukee.
I went with Daniel and an independent digital forensics specialist named Priya Shah.
Noah remained in Chicago because Sofia needed him for an emergency board meeting.
The drive was uneventful until we reached Diane's street.
A police cruiser was parked nearby.
My aunt had arranged for an officer to be present during the collection.
Diane hugged me so tightly I could barely breathe.
Then she hugged Lily.
"Oh, sweetheart."
Her eyes filled.
"You've gotten so big."
Inside, the house smelled like coffee and cinnamon.
For one wonderful minute, it felt like childhood.
Then Diane brought out the laptop.
It was silver, scratched, and heavier than I remembered.
Priya examined it without turning it on.
"We'll document the condition and create a forensic copy with your permission."
I signed the necessary paperwork.
Then Diane disappeared into the kitchen.
When she returned, she carried a small envelope.
"Your mother wanted you to have this."
I stared.
"What is it?"
"She gave it to me before she passed.
Said I should keep it until you were ready."
My hands trembled.
Inside was a handwritten note.
Emily,
Never let anyone convince you that asking questions makes you difficult.
The truth doesn't become less true because someone powerful dislikes it.
Love, Mom.
I covered my mouth.
I hadn't realized how badly I needed to hear her voice again.
Diane hugged me.
Then Priya called from the dining room.
"Emily?"
I wiped my face.
"What is it?"
"The laptop is encrypted, but there's an older backup drive in the carrying case."
I walked over.
She held up a small black external drive.
"Do you recognize this?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
"Do you remember what's on it?"
"Mostly family photographs."
Priya looked at the label.
Written across it in my handwriting were three words.
AUSTIN HOME BACKUP.
She studied me.
"Emily, if this contains what we think it contains, it could be important."
I took a breath.
"Then let's find out."
Several hours later, back in Chicago, Priya called.
Her voice sounded different.
"Emily, we recovered the photograph."
I nearly dropped the phone.
"You did?"
"Yes."
"Is the spreadsheet visible?"
"Very."
I closed my eyes.
Then she said, "There's something else."
"What?"
"The image includes an open message window in the corner of Ryan's screen."
My heart began pounding.
"Who was he talking to?"
Priya hesitated.
May you like
Then answered.
"Richard Calloway."
