harm.
Again.
Nathan looked suddenly tired.
“My brother rushed construction for a party.”
“Yes.”
“And years later that might have contributed.”
Maya said:
“Possibly.”
“Not certainty.”
“No.”
Nathan rubbed his face.
“Everyone in my family loved shortcuts.”
No one answered.
Then Thomas handed him another page.
“There’s more.”
I almost laughed.
Of course.
Michael had written an email to Catherine:
I know you hate the smell. Contractor says sealed wall is fine. I’ll redo it after the party.
Catherine replied:
Please do. Jacob has been coughing at night.
The email was dated twenty-six months before the boys’ illness became officially documented.
Nathan stared.
“Jacob was already coughing?”
Mrs. Bennett looked shocked.
“I don’t remember.”
Nathan looked toward the medical files.
Neither did he.
Maybe the illness had not started where everyone thought.
Maybe early symptoms had been dismissed.
Maybe Catherine had noticed first.
Nathan whispered:
“Why didn’t she tell me?”
