Chapter 6 - THE BLUE HOUSE
Daniel drove toward Ridgewood alone.
At least Vanessa believed he was alone.
Aaron followed almost a mile behind in an unmarked car.
Two patrol units approached from another direction.
Daniel’s phone rang.
Vanessa.
He answered through the car speakers.
“Let me hear Sophie.”
“You’ll see her soon.”
“Let me hear my daughter.”
A pause.
Then:
“Daddy?”
Daniel gripped the steering wheel.
“I’m here, baby.”
“I want to go home.”
“I know.”
“I’m scared.”
“I’m coming.”
Vanessa’s voice returned.
“No police.”
Daniel glanced into his mirror.
“I’m alone.”
“You always were a terrible liar.”
The call ended.
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
A second message arrived.
TELL BLAKE TO TURN AROUND.
Daniel called Aaron.
“She sees you.”
“I’m not leaving.”
“She’ll hurt Sophie.”
Aaron swore.
Then slowed.
“I’ll stay farther back.”
“No.”
Daniel looked toward the wooded road ahead.
“Turn around.”
“Daniel—”
“Please.”
Aaron was silent.
Then:
“I’m putting a tracker on your phone.”
Daniel reached the blue house at 8:43 p.m.
White fence.
Blue siding.
No lights outside.
He carried Emily’s letters in a large envelope.
Vanessa opened the front door.
“No tricks?”
“Where’s Sophie?”
“Inside.”
Daniel stepped forward.
Vanessa raised a handgun.
He stopped.
“Don’t.”
Her voice was shaking.
That frightened him more than confidence would have.
“You don’t want to do this.”
“You have no idea what I want.”
“Then tell me.”
She laughed bitterly.
“You still think this is about me.”
She backed inside.
“Come in.”
Daniel entered.
The house smelled like disinfectant.
Not a home.
A facility.
Locks had been installed on several interior doors.
“Where’s Sophie?”
Vanessa pointed toward a room.
Daniel ran.
Sophie sat on a couch hugging a stuffed rabbit.
She jumped up.
“Daddy!”
He dropped to his knees and caught her.
“I’m here.”
“Take me home.”
“I will.”
Then a woman’s voice came from the hallway.
“Daniel?”
Every part of him stopped.
He turned slowly.
Emily stood at the end of the hall.
Alive.
Thinner.
Paler.
Her brown hair cut to her shoulders.
But alive.
Daniel stared at his wife.
Three years of grief crashed through him all at once.
“Emily?”
She covered her mouth.
He stood.
Neither moved at first.
Then Emily ran.
Daniel met her halfway.
She hit his chest so hard they nearly fell.
He wrapped both arms around her.
Emily sobbed against him.
“I tried.”
Daniel couldn’t speak.
“I tried to get back to you.”
Sophie stared.
“Mommy?”
Emily dropped to her knees.
Sophie walked toward her.
Slowly.
Unsure.
Emily held out both hands.
“My baby.”
Sophie touched her face.
“You’re real.”
Emily broke.
She pulled her daughter into her arms.
Daniel turned away for one second because he couldn’t watch without losing control.
Then Vanessa said:
“Touching.”
They looked up.
She still held the gun.
Emily moved Sophie behind her.
“You don’t have to do this, Vanessa.”
“Yes, I do.”
Daniel stepped forward.
“What do you want?”
Vanessa pointed at the envelope.
“Those.”
Daniel tossed it onto the floor.
“Take them.”
She bent down.
Emily suddenly whispered:
“Those aren’t what she really wants.”
Vanessa froze.
Daniel looked at Emily.
“What does she want?”
Emily stared directly at Vanessa.
“The original trust amendment.”
Vanessa’s face changed.
Daniel frowned.
“What amendment?”
Emily looked at him.
“The one proving Sophie owns controlling interest in Mercer Holdings when she turns five.”
Daniel felt the room tilt.
Emily continued.
“And the one proving your mother tried to have me declared dead so she could steal it.”
A floorboard creaked upstairs.
Vanessa smiled.
Daniel looked toward the staircase.
Someone was coming down.
His brother Ethan appeared.
May you like
And he was holding Sophie’s silver key.
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