As I followed the officer’s request, I could feel the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. The rain had stopped, but the sky was still a somber gray, mirroring the storm within me. I drove in silence, each mile taking me further from the hospital and deeper into a spiraling rage I could barely contain. The Gables needed to face the consequences of their actions, and I would make sure they did.
When I arrived at the bus stop, the area was cordoned off with yellow police tape. Officer Davis, who had called me, stood waiting with a serious expression. “We found something,” he said, leading me to a patch of ground that had been disturbed. A small, dirt-covered object lay partially buried. I squatted down to inspect it, my breath catching in my throat. It was a delicate silver spoon, its ornate handle glinting dully in the muted light. The Gables had thrown it away along with my daughter, evidence of their cruelty left in the mud.
“We’ll use this,” Officer Davis assured me, his voice firm. “This, along with the hospital report, will help us build a case.” He paused, his eyes softening as he looked at me. “I’m deeply sorry for your loss, Mrs. Hale. Emily deserved better.”
