He Came Home to an Empty Crib Covered in Blood—Then His Mother Said, “You Were Taken Too.”

Rachel's father was named Victor Hale.

At least, that was the name she knew.

He disappeared when Rachel was fourteen after an argument with her mother, Susan. Rachel had been told his truck went off a mountain road during a storm. No body was recovered.

"Why didn't you tell me he was alive?" Daniel asked.

"Because I didn't know until six months ago."

"Before Emma was born."

Rachel nodded.

"He emailed me. He knew my childhood nickname. He knew where I broke my wrist when I was nine. He sent a picture of himself holding me as a baby."

Ortiz asked, "Did you meet him?"

"Once."

Daniel stared at her. "Another secret meeting."

Rachel's voice broke. "I was scared. He said my mother lied. He said he had been forced to disappear because of people connected to Richard Cross."

That brought everyone to silence.

"My father?" Daniel said.

"Yes."

"Why would Richard know your father?"

Rachel closed her eyes.

"Because Victor Hale wasn't his real name."

Ortiz slid a notepad toward her. "What was it?"

Rachel wrote two words.

Thomas Vale.

Margaret stood so quickly her chair toppled.

"No."

Daniel looked between them.

"Thomas is Rachel's father?"

Rachel nodded through tears.

Daniel felt something inside him go numb.

His wife was the daughter of the man who helped steal him.

"Did you know before we got married?"

"No. I swear."

"Before Emma?"

"No. He contacted me during the pregnancy."

Margaret stared at Rachel as if seeing a stranger. "He placed you near Daniel."

"I met Daniel in college. I was nineteen. My father had been gone for five years."

"Thomas plans years ahead," Margaret said.

Ortiz looked thoughtful. "Maybe he didn't place Rachel near Daniel. Maybe he disappeared because he knew they had met."

A detective entered with a folder.

"We found the number Rachel deleted. Registered through a series of prepaid accounts. But we recovered one voicemail from cloud backup."

They played it.

Thomas Vale's voice filled the room.

"Rachel, listen to me. Richard lied to both families. If Daniel finds Evelyn before I do, people die. Keep him away from his mother. And do not let Margaret near Emma."

The message ended.

Daniel stared at Margaret.

"Why would he say that?"

Margaret whispered, "Because he wants you to think I'm the threat."

Ortiz's phone buzzed again.

She checked the screen.

"We have a location from Evelyn."

Daniel stood.

"Where?"

"A church outside Lake Geneva. She says she'll bring Emma there at dawn."

Relief hit Daniel so fast it almost hurt.

Then Ortiz continued.