Chapter 14 - The School Attempt
Police prepared arrest warrants for Daniel and expanded the case against Vivian.
Then someone made a move first.
At 1:14 p.m., Lily's preschool called Ethan.
"Mr. Mercer, someone is here to pick up Lily."
Ethan stood so fast his chair fell.
"Lily isn't there."
Silence.
"What?"
The school administrator lowered her voice.
"A woman arrived with court papers saying Lily had been returned to school under a protective order. She says she's a court transport officer."
Ethan looked at Brooks.
Trap.
The woman expected Lily to be there.
Police rushed to the school.
The fake officer fled through a side exit but was caught two blocks away.
Her name was Janice Cole.
Former process server.
Three prior fraud convictions.
In her car police found zip ties, a booster seat, a prepaid phone, and a printed route to a private airfield.
The phone contained one saved contact.
D.P.
Daniel Pike.
Under questioning, Janice admitted she had been paid to pick Lily up and drive her to the airfield.
"Who would be waiting there?" Brooks asked.
Janice shook her head.
"I never got names."
"What was the plan?"
"Put the kid on a plane."
Ethan's hands clenched.
"Where?"
"Canada first. Then somewhere else."
Vivian was taken into custody that evening on conspiracy and child-endangerment charges.
She asked to speak to Ethan.
He refused.
Then she told Brooks she had information about Daniel.
Only Ethan would get it.
Against Maya's advice, Ethan agreed to a monitored conversation.
Vivian sat behind glass.
No makeup.
No polished smile.
"You think I ordered the school pickup," she said.
"Did you?"
"No."
"I don't believe you."
"You shouldn't. But I'm still telling the truth."
Ethan stared at her.
Vivian leaned closer to the glass.
"Daniel is not running because he's afraid of prison."
"Then why?"
"Because Anna left one more thing."
"What?"
"A ledger. Names, payments, judges, doctors, trustees. Daniel thinks Claire has it."
Ethan's pulse jumped.
May you like
Vivian smiled without warmth.
"And Daniel doesn't ask twice."
