Chapter 8 - ARTHUR STERLING
Richard watched the video twice.
On the third time, he noticed Caroline’s eyes.
She kept looking toward the lower right corner.
Three times.
Same direction.
Brooks noticed too.
“She’s signaling something.”
Richard froze the frame.
Behind Caroline stood a metal cabinet.
On it was a faded red number.
“Room number,” Brooks said.
“Briarwood.”
Police mobilized.
Richard wanted to go.
Brooks refused.
“You’re emotionally compromised.”
“That’s my wife.”
“And Arthur wants your daughter. That means Sophie is the target.”
Richard looked upstairs.
For once in his life, the choice was easy.
He stayed.
Two hours later, Brooks called.
Room 214 had been empty.
But they found restraints.
Food containers.
Caroline’s fingerprints.
And blood.
Richard closed his eyes.
Then his home intercom activated.
“Daddy?”
Sophie’s voice.
Richard frowned.
She was upstairs.
“Sophie?”
“Daddy, someone’s outside my window.”
Richard ran.
He reached her room and found the doctor screaming.
The window was open.
Sophie was gone.
A rope ladder hung over the balcony.
Richard felt the world collapse.
Then Duke barked downstairs.
Once.
Twice.
Richard ran toward the sound.
The dog stood beside the mudroom door growling.
Outside, a black SUV was reversing.
Richard sprinted into the driveway.
“SOPHIE!”
The vehicle accelerated.
Richard grabbed the door handle.
Locked.
He slammed his fist against the glass.
Then the rear window lowered.
Sophie’s terrified face appeared.
“Daddy!”
Richard ran beside the moving SUV until it gained speed.
A second later it vanished through the gates.
His daughter was gone.
And on the driveway lay Sophie’s bracelet.
Tied around it was a note.
May you like
BRING THE HAVEN FILES.
COME ALONE.
