Katelyn shot Daria a sharp look. "That''s no way to speak, youngdy. Say you''re sorry."
Seeing Daria get scolded, Autumn''s heart ached for her. "It''s okay, really. She''s just a kid. They all act up sometimes."
But Daria shouted, "She''s mean! She yelled at Daddy!"
Kids have a way of knowing who''s good to them and who isn''t. They feel it deep down.
Katelyn huffed, exasperated. "Honestly, where are your manners? Sometimes I wonder if you have a mother at all. Flynn, take Daria upstairs."
Thatst jab-saying it''s like Daria had a mother but no one to teach her-cut Autumn to the core.
Bitterness welled up inside her, but she forced herself to stayposed.
Flynn scooped up Daria and tried to lighten the mood. "Come on, let''s go see if Emmie and Nancy want to y."
Daria was adorable and usually sweet as sugar-except when Autumn was around. Flynn liked her anyway. Kids shouldn''t have to be dragged into grown-up
messes.
On the way upstairs, Daria just kept chattering away, making Flynnugh as she promised she''d find him a girlfriend someday.
Flynn couldn''t help but be curious about why Daria was so hostile toward Autumn.
Once they were upstairs, Flynn asked gently, "Hey, Daria, why were you so upset with thatdy downstairs? Did she do something to your dad?"
Daria, only two, couldn''t really put her feelings into words. She buried her face in Flynn''s shoulder and mumbled, "She''s bad. I don''t like her."
Flynn grinned, "That''s fair. You don''t have to like her. Honestly, I''m not her biggest fan either."
Daria''s eyes lit up. "Really, Uncle Flynn? You don''t like her too?"
"Nope, not at all." Flynn smiled. "So, who do you like best, huh?"
He was fishing for apliment, hoping she''d say him.
Without hesitating, Daria chirped, "Daddy. And Aunt Ana."
Aunt Ana was Anastasia.
Just the mention of her name made Flynn sigh. He wondered how Ana was holding up these days.
***
Southridge Estates
Anastasia hadn''t left her room in ages. Herman brought her meals three times a
day, but she barely touched any of them.
No matter how many times he
swore he''d love her forever, or tried to convince her the past didn''t
er, Anastasia couldn''t shake the gloom that hung over her.
She was stuck in a maze with no way out.
In the world of adults, even giving up can feel like a luxury you can''t afford.
She couldn''t bring herself to love Herman, but she couldn''t walk away from her family either.
So every day, she drifted like a ghost-sitting by the window, lying in bed, silent and withdrawn.
Herman was at a total loss.
He stayed home with her, and finally managed to unlock the phone Rowan had given him.
The phone was spotless. The only thing on it was a single text: "Once it''s done, I''ll get you both out of Riverdale."
That clue led Herman to a warden at Northside Penitentiary—a man named Ben Lee.
Without hesitating, Herman drove out into a pounding rainstorm, taking Dailey along for backup.
When they got to Ben''s neighborhood, Dailey hopped out with an umbre and led Herman to the door.
After ten minutes of knocking with no answer, Herman shot Dailey a look. Dailey pulled a card and some wire from his pocket and had the door open in no time.
As soon as they stepped inside, the metallic tang of blood filled the air. Herman''s
stomach twisted. He hurried in.
His fears were confirmed-Ben was dead, slumped on the floor.
It was all too convenient. The moment they found a lead, it was snuffed out.
Dailey checked for a pulse. "Boss, he''s been dead less than half an hour."
Which meant Ben had died just as they were on their way.
Ben had no family, no kids, no wife—just years of working at Northside Penitentiary. He was in his fifties and lived alone.
Herman''s voice was cold. "Call the police."
The cops arrived quickly,bed through the ce, and confirmed only Herman and Dailey had entered.
The autopsy was straightforward: heart attack. Nothing suspicious—at least, that''s what the report said.
But Herman knew better. Ben''s
death was too sudden, too
coincidental. The trail had gone
cold,
and Herman was left standing at another dead end. fo