Chapter 12 - The Gray SUV

Daniel was already running before the call disconnected.

Morales grabbed his arm.

"You are not driving."

He got into the police vehicle.

The ride to Megan's house lasted seven minutes.

It felt like an hour.

When they arrived, the gray SUV was still there.

Empty.

The front window of Megan's house was broken.

Daniel ran toward the porch.

An officer stopped him until the building was cleared.

Then Megan appeared in the doorway.

She had Lily behind her.

Daniel pushed past everyone and dropped to his knees.

"Lily."

"I'm okay."

He held her so tightly she squeaked.

"Sorry."

"It's okay."

Megan's hands were shaking.

"He threw a brick through the window. I took Lily into the laundry room and locked the door."

"Who?"

"I couldn't see his face."

Police searched the neighborhood.

They found Kyle's SUV abandoned two blocks away.

Inside were gloves, a broken phone, and a printed map of Megan's street.

But no Kyle.

Daniel moved Lily to a secure location arranged through the court.

He hated it.

But Lily treated the small rented townhouse like an adventure.

"Is this our secret house?"

"For a little while."

"Can I pick my room?"

"Yes."

She chose the one with a window facing a maple tree.

That night Daniel sat outside her door until she slept.

At 1:12 a.m., Detective Morales called.

"We found Vanessa."

"Where?"

"Airport parking garage."

Daniel stood.

"Was Lily's passport with her?"

"Yes."

"And Kyle?"

"No."

"What did Vanessa say?"

"She says Kyle forced her."

Daniel almost laughed.

"Of course."

Morales was silent.

"There's more."

Daniel waited.

"She had a second phone. We recovered recent messages."

"What kind?"

"Between her and Kyle."

"Read one."

Morales hesitated.

Then she did.

Daniel's blood ran cold.

"What does 'company burns' mean?"

"We don't know."

He called Aaron immediately.

No answer.

He called the night security supervisor at Reed Development.

No answer.

Then his phone rang.

Aaron.

Daniel picked up.

"Where are you?"

"Outside the office."

"Why?"

"Fire department called me. Daniel..."

In the background, sirens screamed.

"What happened?"

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Aaron exhaled.

"The records floor is on fire."