Chapter 9 - THE EMPTY BEDROOM
Ethan did not remember the drive back to Claire’s house.
He remembered the police lights.
The open front door.
Claire crying on the porch.
And Sophie’s empty bedroom.
“I checked on her twenty minutes ago.”
Claire could barely speak.
“She was sleeping.”
Ethan looked at the window.
Open.
The screen had been removed.
A small stuffed elephant lay on the floor.
Rachel searched the room.
“No note.”
Ethan turned toward Claire.
“Did you see anyone?”
“No.”
“Hear anything?”
“Nothing.”
Rachel found a partial shoe print outside.
Another officer discovered tire tracks near the alley.
An Amber Alert went out immediately.
Road cameras were searched.
License plates scanned.
Every property connected to Vanessa and Daniel was flagged.
Ethan stood in the bedroom staring at Sophie’s blanket.
He had promised her.
Daddy, don’t leave again.
I’m not leaving you.
And now she was gone.
Lucy entered quietly.
“This is what they want.”
Ethan turned.
“What?”
“For you to panic.”
“My daughter is missing.”
“I know.”
“Then don’t tell me not to panic.”
“I’m telling you Vanessa always has a reason.”
Ethan stepped toward her.
“What reason could justify taking Sophie?”
“Control.”
Lucy’s eyes filled with tears.
“She wants the evidence.”
Rachel looked at Ethan.
“The original files.”
“The bank has them.”
“Vanessa may not know that.”
Ethan suddenly remembered the photograph delivered to his house.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STOPPED DIGGING.
“This is about the evidence.”
Rachel nodded.
Then Ethan’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
Rachel activated recording equipment.
Ethan answered.
“Where is she?”
Vanessa’s voice came through.
“Hello, Ethan.”
“If you hurt Sophie—”
“She’s fine.”
“I want to hear her.”
Silence.
Then a tiny voice.
“Daddy?”
Ethan nearly collapsed.
“Sophie.”
“Daddy, I want to go home.”
“I’m coming.”
Vanessa returned.
“You have something I want.”
“The files.”
“Everything Emily hid.”
“I’ll give you anything.”
Rachel silently shook her head.
Vanessa continued.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tonight.”
“Tomorrow at noon.”
“Where?”
“I’ll tell you in the morning.”
“If Sophie has one mark on her—”
“You’re not in a position to threaten me.”
The call ended.
Ethan stared at the phone.
Rachel immediately began tracing it.
Lucy stood by the window.
Something bothered her.
“Vanessa sounded wrong.”
Ethan looked at her.
“What does that mean?”
“She sounded afraid.”
“She kidnapped my daughter.”
“I know.”
“Why would she be afraid?”
Lucy turned.
“Because maybe Vanessa isn’t the one controlling this.”
Rachel stopped typing.
Ethan remembered Daniel.
The warehouse.
The money.
The restraints.
Then his phone buzzed.
A text message.
It contained a photograph.
Sophie sat on a bed holding her elephant.
Vanessa stood behind her.
But Vanessa was not looking at the camera.
She was looking toward someone outside the frame.
Her expression was unmistakable.
Fear.
Below the photograph were four words.
BRING MICHAEL'S ORIGINAL LEDGER.
May you like
Lucy whispered.
“Daniel has both of them.”
