Chapter 2 - THE FATHER WHO WASN'T AFRAID
The officer turned toward the man.
“You're the children's father?”
“Yes.”
His voice was controlled again.
Too controlled.
“Daniel Mercer.”
He pulled out his wallet.
“I want my daughter back.”
The officer didn't move.
“Your son was found unconscious inside a locked vehicle.”
Daniel looked toward Caleb.
“He has behavioral problems.”
I stared at him.
Behavioral problems?
The boy had nearly died protecting an infant.
Daniel continued.
“He probably locked himself inside.”
“That doesn't explain the baby,” I said.
Daniel's eyes snapped toward me.
For the first time, he really looked at me.
There was something in his stare that made my skin crawl.
“And who are you?”
“The person who broke your window and got your children out.”
His jaw tightened.
“You destroyed my property.”
“I'd destroy every window in this parking lot before I'd leave children trapped in that heat.”
A few people in the crowd murmured their agreement.
Daniel looked around.
He realized he had an audience.
Immediately, his expression softened.
It was almost impressive.
He became a worried father in less than a second.
“Officer, my son has been struggling since his mother abandoned us.”
Caleb made a weak sound.
Daniel glanced toward him.
“He gets confused.”
Caleb pulled the oxygen mask away.
“She didn't leave.”
The paramedic tried to put it back.
“Caleb, don't talk.”
“She didn't…”
His breathing became ragged.
Daniel stepped forward.
“Son.”
Caleb recoiled so violently that one paramedic had to steady him.
“Don't call me that!”
The crowd went silent again.
Daniel stopped.
The officer's expression hardened.
“Sir, step back.”
“This is ridiculous.”
“Step back.”
Daniel obeyed.
Barely.
The paramedics loaded Caleb onto a stretcher.
As they moved him toward the ambulance, his eyes searched frantically through the crowd.
They found me.
“You.”
I stepped closer.
“I'm here.”
“Note.”
My heart jumped.
Daniel's eyes immediately moved toward me.
I had folded the paper and slipped it into my pocket.
“What note?” Daniel asked.
Caleb looked terrified.
I answered before he could.
“He's confused.”
Daniel stared at me.
I stared back.
Something passed between us.
He knew I was lying.
And I knew he knew.
The paramedics loaded Caleb into the ambulance.
“Can someone ride with him?” I asked.
“Family only.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“I'll go.”
“No!”
Caleb's scream came from inside.
The officer blocked Daniel again.
“I think we're going to let the medical team handle this for now.”
Daniel's face darkened.
“That's my son.”
“And right now, he's a patient.”
The ambulance doors closed.
The baby was in the same ambulance.
I watched it pull away.
Then Daniel turned toward me.
“What's your name?”
I hesitated.
The officer answered for me.
“Sir, you don't need her information.”
Daniel smiled.
But there was no warmth in it.
“I just want to thank the woman who saved my children.”
“No, you don't,” I said.
His smile disappeared.
The officer began questioning him.
“How long were the children inside the vehicle?”
“I don't know.”
“You don't know?”
“I went into the store.”
“Which store?”
Daniel pointed vaguely across the shopping center.
“The pharmacy.”
The officer looked toward the pharmacy.
“How long were you inside?”
“Ten minutes.”
I laughed.
I couldn't help it.
Daniel turned.
“What?”
“That boy didn't get into that condition in ten minutes.”
The paramedic who had remained behind looked over.
“She has a point.”
Daniel's jaw tightened.
“I lost track of time.”
The officer wrote something down.
“Where are your keys?”
Daniel reached into his pocket.
Then stopped.
His expression changed.
“They're gone.”
The officer looked toward the minivan.
“The vehicle was locked.”
Daniel said nothing.
Another officer had arrived.
He began walking around the minivan.
“Sergeant?”
The first officer turned.
“Yeah?”
“You should see this.”
We followed him toward the driver's side.
The second officer pointed through the broken window.
The ignition was empty.
Nothing unusual.
Then he crouched.
“Look underneath the steering column.”
The first officer leaned closer.
“What am I looking at?”
“Wiring.”
Daniel suddenly stepped forward.
“Don't touch my vehicle.”
Both officers turned toward him.
The second officer stood.
“Why?”
“Because I don't consent to a search.”
Nobody spoke for a moment.
The officer looked at the shattered window.
Then at Daniel.
Then at the unconscious boy's abandoned backpack on the floor.
“This isn't a normal vehicle emergency anymore.”
Daniel crossed his arms.
“You don't have a warrant.”
I remembered the note in my pocket.
DON'T TRUST DAD.
I looked toward the ambulance disappearing in the distance.
Then I made a decision.
“Officer.”
Daniel turned toward me.
I reached into my pocket.
His face went pale.
“I found this wrapped with the baby.”
Daniel lunged.
“Give me that!”
The officers grabbed him before he reached me.
And suddenly the calm, worried father vanished.
“THAT BELONGS TO ME!”
The parking lot erupted.
“Sir!”
“Let go of me!”
“Hands behind your back!”
“You don't understand!”
I stepped backward, gripping the note.
Daniel struggled against both officers.
Then he looked directly at me.
What he said next was quiet.
So quiet that almost nobody else heard it.
“You just made a terrible mistake.”
I stared at him.
“No.”
May you like
I handed the note to the officer.
“I think you did.”
