Chapter 11: The Woman Who Knew Everything
I didn't know what to expect when Lauren walked into the private security office.
I expected an angry woman.
Maybe someone who wanted revenge.
Instead, I saw a tired mother carrying a worn leather handbag and a little girl's pink sweater.
She looked at Tyler.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Then she whispered, "Hello, Tyler.""
He stood.
"Lauren.""
Her eyes moved toward me.
"You're Emily?""
I nodded.
She looked at the twins in my arms.
"They're beautiful.""
"Thank you.""
Lauren sat down.
"I wish we were meeting under different circumstances.""
Tyler pulled out a chair.
"Why didn't you tell me about Sophie?""
Lauren's eyes filled.
"I tried.""
He frowned.
"What?""
"I sent letters. Emails. I even went to your mother's house twice.""
Tyler looked stunned.
"Mom never told me.""
"She told me you didn't want the baby.""
He shook his head.
"That's not true.""
Lauren opened her handbag.
She removed a stack of old letters tied with a rubber band.
"I kept everything.""
She placed them on the table.
The first envelope was addressed to Tyler.
The postmark was four years old.
The second was dated three weeks later.
The third had never been opened.
Tyler picked one up.
His fingers trembled.
"Why are these unopened?""
Lauren looked at him.
"Because Margaret intercepted them.""
Rachel examined the envelopes.
"Did you keep the original delivery records?""
Lauren nodded.
"I have everything.""
She pulled out another folder.
Inside were bank transfers, emails, and a signed agreement.
Michael leaned forward.
"What is this?""
Lauren looked at him.
"Proof that Margaret paid me to disappear.""
Tyler stared.
"How much?""
"Two hundred thousand dollars.""
His face hardened.
"And you accepted it?""
Lauren didn't look away.
"Yes.""
The honesty surprised me.
She continued.
"I was twenty-three, pregnant, unemployed, and terrified. Margaret told me Tyler wanted nothing to do with the baby. She said she would make sure Sophie had everything she needed if I agreed to leave.""
Tyler lowered his head.
"I would have raised her.""
Lauren's voice cracked.
"I know that now.""
Michael examined the agreement.
"Who witnessed this?""
Lauren pointed to a signature.
"Daniel Cross.""
Rachel looked up sharply.
"The same Daniel Cross connected to the ship?""
Lauren nodded.
"He was Margaret's security consultant. He handled the payment and arranged the documents.""
Michael's expression darkened.
"That confirms a connection between the old arrangement and the current investigation.""
Lauren reached into her handbag again.
This time she removed a small USB drive.
"There's more.""
Rachel looked at it.
"What is on there?""
"Audio recordings.""
Tyler frowned.
"Of what?""
Lauren looked directly at him.
"Your mother discussing what she planned to do after your death.""
The room went silent.
Michael motioned toward Rachel.
"Can you play it?""
Rachel connected the drive to her laptop.
A woman's voice filled the room.
Margaret.
Once Tyler is gone, the children will be under my protection. Emily won't have the money or the resources to fight me.
Another voice answered.
Daniel.
And what about the older girl?
Margaret laughed.
She'll be useful. Three grandchildren, one trust, and nobody questioning why I'm making the decisions.
Then came another voice.
Vanessa.
What if Tyler survives?
Margaret's answer was chilling.
He won't.
Tyler closed his eyes.
The recording continued.
The medication will be administered before he reaches Miami. By the time anyone notices, I'll already have the children secured.
Rachel stopped the recording.
Michael stood.
"That's enough.""
Tyler looked physically sick.
"She was planning this for months.""
Lauren nodded.
"There's something else.""
She opened a separate document.
It was a letter from Margaret.
The date was two weeks before Tyler boarded the Ocean Majesty.
The letter stated that Sophie would be placed under Margaret's temporary care if anything happened to either parent.
But Lauren had never signed it.
At the bottom was a forged signature.
Tyler stared.
"She was planning to take Sophie too?""
Lauren nodded.
"She called me three days ago. She said I needed to bring Sophie to Coral Gables immediately.""
"Why didn't you?""
"Because she told me Tyler was dead.""
Tyler looked up.
"What?""
Lauren's voice broke.
"She said your ship had suffered an accident. She said you were gone.""
I felt cold all over.
"Why would she tell you that?""
"Because she wanted Sophie before anyone could challenge the guardianship arrangements.""
Rachel closed the folder.
"We need to preserve every document and recording. This is now much bigger than a financial investigation.""
Michael nodded.
Then Lauren reached for Tyler's hand.
"There's one thing I need to tell you.""
He looked at her.
"Sophie knows about you.""
His eyes filled.
"What?""
"She thinks her father abandoned her.""
Tyler covered his face.
Lauren continued.
"Every night, she asks whether you'll ever come home.""
For the first time, Tyler began to cry.
I looked away.
I didn't know what to do with his pain.
I had my own.
Then Lauren pulled out her phone.
"I have a photograph from this morning.""
She showed us the screen.
It was a picture of Sophie standing outside a house.
Behind her was Margaret.
And beside Margaret was a man wearing a black security uniform.
Daniel Cross.
Michael immediately recognized him.
"That's him.""
Rachel zoomed in.
Then she noticed something in the background.
A second vehicle.
A white van.
Its rear doors were open.
"What's inside?"" I asked.
Lauren's face went pale.
"Car seats.""
Three of them.
One for Sophie.
Two infant seats.
I looked at Piper and Poppy.
Michael immediately called the officer.
But before he could finish, Lauren's phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
Unknown number.
You should never have brought those recordings.
Then another message arrived.
A photograph of Sophie's bedroom.
The little girl was standing by the window.
May you like
And written beneath the photograph were seven words:
*Your daughter will disappear before midnight.*
