Chapter 5 - The Man in the Navy Polo
Kyle did not answer calls.
He did not answer texts.
"How well do you know Mercer?" she asked.
"Two years. Maybe three. He was Vanessa's friend first."
"Ever worked with him?"
"No."
"Loaned him money?"
Daniel frowned.
"Once. Ten thousand. He said he was starting a contracting company."
"Did he repay it?"
"Vanessa told me he did."
Morales looked up.
"Told you?"
Daniel opened his banking app.
The repayment had never arrived.
He went still.
Megan, standing behind him, muttered, "Of course."
Morales asked, "Do you know where he lives?"
Daniel gave her the address.
Then he remembered something.
"Wait."
Kyle's name appeared on six of them.
Patio repair.
Pool tile.
Security wiring.
Bathroom ventilation.
Daniel looked at the last line again.
Security wiring.
His stomach tightened.
"Detective."
Morales stepped closer.
"He had system access," Daniel said.
"Maybe still does," Morales replied.
Too late.
His phone lit up.
A security alert.
FRONT DOOR OPENED.
Daniel looked toward the foyer.
The door was closed.
Megan whispered, "Daniel..."
A second alert appeared.
GARAGE CAMERA OFFLINE.
They ran.
Nothing obvious was missing.
Then Daniel saw the empty shelf.
"My old laptop."
"What was on it?" Morales asked.
"Work. Taxes. Photos."
He stopped.
"Backups."
"Of what?"
"Everything from our home cameras before we switched systems."
Morales was already on her radio.
Daniel walked to the driveway.
"Everything okay?"
Daniel shook his head.
"Did you see anyone come by?"
Mr. Cho hesitated.
"A gray SUV. About ten minutes ago."
"Who was driving?"
"Couldn't see."
"Anything else?"
The older man thought.
"Passenger window was down."
"And?"
Mr. Cho pointed toward the curb.
"Someone threw that out."
A cracked phone lay in the gutter.
Morales picked it up with gloves.
The lock screen still glowed.
Not at a party.
Not with friends.
They were kissing.
Daniel stared at the screen.
Megan whispered, "Oh my God."
But Morales was looking at something else.
A notification banner had appeared.
ONE MISSED CALL - REED FAMILY LAW.
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KYLE, DO NOT LET DANIEL FIND THE SECOND CAMERA.
