Max: slams phone number on the table Meet her at the cafe, you useless piece of crap! Don’t screw it up!
Poolin
looks at the number, then at Max Screw you, dad. I'm not your puppet anymore.
leans back in his chair, smirking Oh, really? You think you can just walk away? I made you who you are, Poolin.
Poolin
i’m doing this because i’m your daughter
stands up abruptly, knocking over his chair Don't you dare use that word with me, you ungrateful brat!
Poolin
dad i’m going to find her anyway
grabs Poolin by the collar, his grip tight You listen to me, kid. You do as I say, or you'll regret it. I built this life for us, and you think you can just walk away?
Poolin
dad please let me go find her
releases Poolin's collar, his expression softening Look, I didn't mean to hurt you. It's just... I'm scared, okay? Scared of losing you.
Poolin
softly smiles Dad, I understand... But this isn't about us. It's about her. She needs us too.
takes a deep breath, his voice trembling You're right, Poolin. This is about her. And maybe... just maybe, we can find a way to be together.
Poolin
thank you dad
sits back down, looking at Poolin with a mixture of regret and determination Alright, Poolin. We'll do this together.
Poolin
hugs dad
pulls away from the hug, a determined look in his eyes Alright, Poolin. We have work to do. We need to gather all the information we have on her and start planning our next move.
Poolin
yes dad
quickly pulls out a notebook and pen, flipping through the pages We need to find out everything we can about her whereabouts, her associates, anything that could help us locate her.
Poolin
nods
starts jotting down names and places, speaking quickly We'll start with her family members, her friends, anyone she's been in contact with recently.
Poolin
puts phone number on table
As Max and Poolin start investigating, they discover a shocking truth about their estranged family member
Poolin
what happened?
narrows his eyes, his voice filled with anger This...this is what your mother did. She betrayed us, Poolin. She's been living a double life all these years.
Poolin
what mom did is awful
slams his fist on the table, his voice booming Betrayal doesn't even begin to cover it, Poolin! Your mother stole from us! She lied to us!
Poolin
hugs dad
takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself Look, Poolin, I know this is hard to hear, but we can't let her get away with this. We need to confront her and demand answers.
Poolin
but where can we find her
pauses, thinking for a moment We'll start by tracking her financial records.
Poolin
ok
quickly opens his laptop and starts typing furiously Alright, Poolin. We need to dig deep this time. I'm going to find every credit card statement, bank account, and loan she has.
Poolin
ok dad
clicks through various financial websites, his fingers flying across the keyboard Alright, Poolin, I found her bank's online banking portal.
Poolin
nods
enters the login credentials with a determined look Come on, come on... Let's see where all that dirty money is going.
Poolin
looks at screen
scrolls through the account activity, his eyes narrowing as he spots a recurring transaction Hold on, Poolin. Look at this.
Poolin
points to screen that a monthly payment
grabs Poolin's pointing finger and moves it away from the screen Easy there, kiddo. We don't want to miss anything important.
Poolin
your right
leans closer to the screen, his voice dropping to a low whisper Now listen up, Poolin. This monthly payment... it's going to a facility for troubled youth.
Poolin
that makes sense because mom had to take care of herself because of the fire
Max and Poolin realize that their estranged family member is actually a sex offender living in isolation.
Poolin
omg she is a sex offender my mom is a sex offender
slams his fist on the table, his voice filled with rage That goddamn bitch! She sold you out, Poolin! She abandoned you to a life of danger because she couldn't handle the truth!
Poolin
gets up and walks to room crying
stands up abruptly, knocking over his chair Damn it, Poolin! Don't you dare walk away from me right now! You need to hear this!
Poolin
is in room crying on bed
storms into Poolin's room, his voice booming Poolin, listen up! You can't just run away and bury your head in the sand!