Chapter 8 - The EvidenceInvestigators raided the judge's property.
They found records.
Financial transfers.
Photographs.
Names.
And evidence linking him directly to Mason and Rebecca.
The entire network began collapsing.
Mason was arrested.
The judge resigned before his arrest warrant was issued.
Rebecca finally confessed.
Not because she felt guilty.
Because she wanted a reduced sentence.
She revealed the locations of several children.
One by one, they were found.
Some had been missing for years.
One was found in another state.
Another was living under a false identity.
And one was found in a private facility less than fifty miles from Austin.
The investigation became national news.
But for me, the biggest moment came when they recovered Ethan's final recording.
He had recorded it hours before his death.
“Tom,” he said.
“If I don't make it home, take care of my kids.”
He smiled sadly.
“They're going to need someone who doesn't give up on them.”
I broke down.
Because I had failed him.
But only for a while.
May you like
I had finally heard his last request.
And I was keeping it.
