Chapter 14 - THE MAN IN THE RED CAR
Emmie stared at Daniel.
“That’s him.”
Ethan's eyes never left his daughter.
Daniel wore a gray coat and black gloves.
No panic.
No hurry.
As though abducting a nine-year-old child was a business meeting that had gone slightly off schedule.
“Let her go,” Ethan said.
Daniel smiled.
“She has an extraordinary memory.”
“She’s a child.”
“Exactly. Adults forget. Children repeat.”
Ethan took one step forward.
Riker raised the gun.
“Stay back!”
Daniel looked annoyed.
“Dean.”
Riker turned slightly.
“What?”
“You're becoming emotional.”
“You said you would get me out.”
“I said I would handle it.”
Hale called out.
“Dean, listen carefully. Laura's recording is already being copied. Killing anyone here changes nothing.”
Riker's breathing became fast.
Daniel's face remained calm.
“Detective, you are gambling with a child's life.”
“No,” Hale said. “You are.”
Daniel looked at Emmie.
“Tell your father what your mother said that morning.”
Emmie's chin trembled.
“No.”
“Tell him.”
Ethan said, “You don't have to say anything.”
Daniel's smile disappeared.
“Laura told Emmie to remember the red car. She knew exactly what was coming.”
Ethan felt tears burn behind his eyes.
Daniel continued.
“She could have stopped. I gave her several opportunities.”
“You threatened her.”
“I negotiated.”
“You killed her.”
Daniel tilted his head.
“Dean handled the vehicle.”
Riker spun toward him.
“What?”
Daniel calmly looked at him.
“You altered the brake line.”
Riker's face drained.
“You told me nobody would ever hear that.”
Daniel shrugged.
“They're arresting us either way.”
Hale whispered into his radio.
“Stand by.”
Riker's gun shifted toward Daniel.
“You used me.”
Daniel moved fast.
He shoved Emmie toward Riker and reached inside his coat.
Ethan ran.
Gunfire cracked through the quarry.
One shot.
Two.
Ethan hit the ground beside Emmie and covered her with his body.
“Dad!”
“I've got you!”
Police rushed forward.
“DROP IT!”
Riker screamed.
Daniel staggered against the building wall, clutching his shoulder.
His weapon fell.
Riker still held his gun.
Hale aimed at him.
“Dean!”
Riker looked around.
Police everywhere.
Daniel bleeding beside the wall.
Ethan shielding Emmie.
No escape.
Riker finally dropped the weapon.
He raised both hands.
Officers swarmed him.
Daniel tried to run through the building.
He made it twelve feet.
A tactical officer tackled him onto the concrete.
Ethan barely noticed.
He was checking Emmie.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded.
Then she wrapped both arms around his neck.
And for the first time since the porch, she cried without trying to hide it.
Ethan held her.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what?”
“For not listening about the red car.”
She pulled back.
“You listen now.”
That nearly broke him.
“Yes.”
His voice cracked.
“I listen now.”
Hale approached slowly.
“We got both of them.”
Ethan nodded.
But Hale's expression told him there was more.
“What?”
“We finished reviewing Laura's video.”
Ethan stood.
“What did she say?”
Hale swallowed.
May you like
“The last thirty seconds were recorded for you.”
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