The flight home was quiet.
Kate and Sophia sat together near the back of the plane, wrapped in matching blankets despite the cabin's warmth. Kate had not spoken much since leaving the medical facility, but she had eaten two full meals and slept for six uninterrupted hours. Sophia looked at her like she was still afraid the girl might vanish if she blinked too long.
Marcus sat beside me, his bandaged ribs making every shift in his seat a small negotiation with pain. He had refused the stronger medication. Said he wanted to be clear-headed when we landed. I understood. I wanted to be clear-headed too.
Julian spent most of the flight on his laptop, coordinating with Arthur's legal team. Every few minutes he would look up and deliver another update. The warrants were drafted. The evidence w
