Page 51 of Fatal Pattern

“Tori, maybe we should—”

“There has to be proof.” She stood, her voice gaining strength. “Real evidence. Not just Barclay’s interpretation of a scared little boy defending himself.”

Because she refused to believe her brother was the villain they’d made him out to be.

“Maybe we should give you some space,” Kiara said, pushing back from the desk. “This is a lot to process. Blade and I could step over—”

“No.” The word shot out before Tori could think. She glanced at Blade as he got up, catching his steady blue gaze. Something settled in her chest at the sight of him.

“She’s right.” He pulled Tori under his arm as he had earlier. “We’ve come this far. Let’s keep going. Together.”

“I need you here,” she said, looking up at him.

The admission surprised her with its clarity, but tucked under her friend’s arm she knew. She needed Blade. His quiet strength, his presence, the way he absorbed turmoil without flinching. The same way he’d found her in that closet tonight, offering comfort without words.

“And I need you too,” she said to Kiara.

A faint line cut across Kiara’s forehead, then disappeared. She dipped her chin once. “I’ll find the psychiatric evaluation.”

They sank back into their seats, and she studied the blond woman’s profile as she scrolled through the files. Watching her, Tori understood why Blade loved her. Kiara carried a quiet grace. Kindness without judgment. The kind that made broken people feel seen.

“Here, I think this is it,” Kiara said. “Dr. Jamie Colley, dated October twentieth, 1998.”

“By day six of the post-incident reports,” Tori said.

“Patient presents with severe behavioral dysregulation following traumatic event,” Blade read. “Initial assessment reveals hypervigilance, aggressive outbursts, and persistent delusions regarding threats to his safety. Patient refuses to speak about the incident and becomes violent when questioned about his sister’s whereabouts.”

He was looking for me. The thought pierced through her. While she had no recollection of him at all, her twin had been fighting to find her.

“Day three,” Kiara continued. “Patient attacked orderly with plastic spoon, requiring physical restraint. Exhibits paranoid ideation, claiming ‘bad men’ are coming to hurt his sister. Refuses medication. Screams for Victoria during night terrors.”

Tears burned behind Tori’s eyes. He’d called her by name. Even in his terror, even as the system labeled him dangerous, he’d been trying to protect her. And she’d forgotten him.

“Day seven.” Blade’s voice grew quieter. “Patient’s condition deteriorating rapidly. Hallucinations increasing in frequency and intensity. Claims to see ‘shadows with knives’ in his room. Self-harm behaviors emerging. Patient has bitten through his tongue and clawed at his arms until they bleed.”

The clinical language couldn’t mask the horror. A four-year-old boy, traumatized beyond comprehension, spiraling into madness while doctors took notes.

“Final assessment,” Kiara whispered. “Patient diagnosed with extreme form of early-onset paranoid schizophrenia with homicidal ideation. Prognosis: Poor. Recommend immediate transfer to specialized facility for long-term psychiatric care.”

The words hung in the air like a death sentence. Tori’s twin, branded insane before kindergarten. Shipped away like a broken toy that couldn’t be fixed.

“There’s more,” Blade said. “A sealed court order.”

Kiara’s fingers hesitated over the keyboard. “This is marked classified.”

“No, don’t.” Tori reached out, covering Kiara’s hand with her own. “You’ve risked so much already.”

Kiara opened the file. “You need to know what happened to him.”

The court seal filled the screen. Tori read the header twice before the words penetrated: In re: Nikos Crew Jr., Minor Child—Petition for Identity Expungement and Protective Transfer.

“By petition of the guardian ad litem,” Tori read, “and because of the unique and severe nature of the child’s psychosis, and for the mutual protection of both the subject and his surviving twin, this court orders the immediate legal expungement of Nikos Crew Jr.’s identity.”

Expungement. They’d erased him. Wiped him from existence like he’d never been born.

“The subject’s name shall be legally changed,” Kiara continued. “All birth records, medical files, and identifying documents shall be sealed. The subject is hereby ordered to immediate and permanent transfer to Aletheia Psychiatric Research Institute, Seattle, Washington.”

“Hmm,” Blade said, pressing his thumb against his lower lip.