Chapter 7 - The Night Richard Died
Richard Cross had supposedly died alone in a hotel room in Indianapolis after a business dinner.
Daniel had flown there the next morning to identify him.
He remembered the gray sheet pulled to Richard's shoulders. The bruising near his temple had been explained as a fall when his heart stopped.
Now Ortiz reopened the old file.
The medical examiner had listed cardiac arrest as the immediate cause, but toxicology showed a sedative in Richard's system. At the time, it had been dismissed because Richard had a prescription.
"He didn't take that medication," Margaret said.
Ortiz looked up. "You're sure?"
"He hated anything that made him groggy."
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
"So my father's death might have been murder, my biological father bled in his car the same year, and now someone took Emma."
"There is a pattern," Ortiz said. "People who know the truth get removed."
Rachel went still.
"Then why take Emma alive?"
No one answered.
At 2:17 a.m., another message arrived from the kidnapper.
A live video link.
Emma lay sleeping in a bassinet. No visible injuries. A bottle sat beside her.
Daniel leaned close to the screen.
"Emma. Daddy's here."
A woman's face moved into frame.
Evelyn.
Older than the Polaroid but unmistakable.
She looked directly into the camera.
"Daniel, I never wanted your daughter hurt."
"Then bring her home."
"I can't."
"You took her."
"No."
"She's with you!"
"Because I took her from the man who took her from your house."
Daniel froze.
"Thomas?"
Evelyn's eyes sharpened. "Thomas didn't enter your house tonight."
"I saw him."
"You saw the man who helped steal you. You did not see the man who took Emma."
"Who did?"
Evelyn glanced off-camera.
"Someone Rachel knows."
Rachel stepped toward the laptop. "What are you talking about?"
Evelyn's expression turned cold.
"Ask your wife why she deleted eleven calls from the same number the week Emma was born."
Daniel slowly looked at Rachel.
Her face drained.
"Rachel?"
"It's not what you think."
He nearly laughed. "Do you understand how tired I am of hearing that?"
Evelyn continued. "Daniel, your daughter was taken because of something hidden in Rachel's family. Your story and hers crossed long before the two of you met."
"Where are you?"
"I will tell you when I'm sure you are not being followed."
"I need to see Emma."
Evelyn lifted the baby gently.
Emma stirred and made a tiny sleepy sound.
Daniel's eyes burned.
"Please."
Evelyn's voice softened. "I lost twenty-nine years with my son. I won't let you lose your daughter."
The screen went black.
Daniel turned to Rachel.
"Whose calls did you delete?"
Rachel swallowed.
"My father's."
Daniel frowned.
Rachel's father had died when she was fourteen.
"Your father is dead."
May you like
She shook her head.
"That's what my mother told everyone."
