Chapter 10 - The Empty Car Seat
The daycare director was crying before Emily even finished the question.
"Mrs. Carter, Lily was signed out twenty minutes ago."
Emily's knees nearly gave out.
"By who?"
"A woman listed as family. She had identification. She knew the security word."
Daniel grabbed the phone.
"What woman?"
The director whispered, "Her grandmother."
Monica.
The room exploded into motion.
Ruiz called dispatch. Officers locked down highway exits. The daycare sent surveillance stills showing Monica carrying Lily through the parking lot.
The little girl was wearing her pink sweater and holding the stuffed rabbit Emily had packed that morning.
Emily stared at the image until her vision blurred.
"She knows the lake house," Daniel said.
Ruiz pointed at him. "You are not going there alone."
"That's my daughter."
"Which is exactly why you're going to listen to me."
They left in two vehicles.
Rain started halfway north.
Emily sat rigid in the back seat while Daniel kept calling Monica's phone.
No answer.
Finally, at 6:41 p.m., a text arrived.
COME ALONE OR YOU DON'T GET HER BACK.
A photo followed.
Lily was sitting on a sofa inside the old lake house.
She appeared unharmed.
Emily covered her mouth.
Daniel stared at the photo.
"She's using Lily to force me to drop the charges."
Ruiz shook his head. "Maybe. Or she wants something else."
Another message appeared.
BRING THE BLUE BOX.
There it was.
Not Vanessa's freedom.
Evidence.
Robert's evidence.
Ruiz made a decision quickly.
They would bring a decoy box.
Daniel would approach the house while officers moved through the woods.
Emily objected.
"I'm going with him."
"No," Ruiz said.
"That's my baby."
"And Monica expects Daniel. If she sees you, she may panic."
Emily's eyes filled, but she nodded.
At the lake house, Daniel walked toward the porch carrying the blue box.
The front door opened.
Monica stood there holding Lily.
Lily saw her father and reached out.
"Da-da!"
Daniel's face broke.
"Give her to me, Mom."
Monica held Lily tighter.
"Put the box on the porch."
Daniel did.
"Now give me my daughter."
Monica looked at him with tears in her eyes.
"Your father tried to take everything from Vanessa. I won't let you finish what he started."
Behind the house, a branch snapped.
Monica's head turned.
Her face hardened.
May you like
"You brought police."
Then she stepped backward into the house with Lily and slammed the door.
