“I probably will.”
After he left, I called Caleb.
“You did the right thing by telling me.”
“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay.”
“Should I come home?”
“No.”
My answer was immediate.
“You stay at school. Let the adults handle this.”
He was quiet.
Then he said, “Dad doesn’t know I found those files, right?”
“No. And I want to keep it that way for now.”
“Okay.”
Before hanging up, he added:
“Mom?”
“Yes?”
“Be careful.”
“I will.”
For the first time that morning, I allowed myself to cry.
Only for a minute.
Then I wiped my face and began organizing every document Marcus had requested.
By that evening, investigators had enough concerns to take the situation seriously.
They did not tell me to confront Julian.
They told me the opposite.
Stay calm.
Stay near an exit.
Keep my phone with me.
And allow professionals to handle anything suspicious.
