Chapter 7
I called Ryan before anyone could stop me.
He answered immediately.
“Emily, what's happening? There are police cars outside—”
“Where is your dad?”
Silence.
“What?”
“Where is your father?”
“At work, I think.”
“Call him.”
“Why?”
“Ryan, please.”
Something in my voice must have frightened him.
“All right.”
Dad reached for my phone.
I stepped away.
“No.”
“Emily, Daniel Mitchell has represented me for fifteen years.”
“And Mom named him.”
“Which means we do this carefully.”
“I am being careful.”
Dad stared at me.
“You're calling his son.”
“Because he's my friend.”
“Exactly.”
That hurt.
I turned away.
Ryan came back on the line.
“He's not answering.”
“Can you see his location?”
“Why would I—”
“Family tracking. Anything.”
Ryan went quiet.
Then he whispered, “Emily, you're scaring me.”
I closed my eyes.
“Your dad's name was in something my mom recorded before she died.”
Silence.
“No.”
“Ryan—”
“No. My dad loved your mom.”
Dad looked sharply at the phone.
Ryan continued.
“He talks about her all the time. He says she was the most ethical attorney he ever knew.”
“Then help me prove Mom was wrong.”
More silence.
Finally Ryan said, “Give me a minute.”
The livestream remained frozen on my mother's face.
Marcus had paused the recording.
He was enjoying this.
I hated him for it.
Dana returned with a thick file.
Dad opened it.
Bank records.
Photographs.
Copies of checks.
“Samuel was alive after Catherine died,” he said.
The detective examined the documents.
“These appear legitimate.”
Marcus spoke through the television.
“Paper can be manufactured.”
“Then verify it yourself,” Dad said.
“I will.”
“Release Madison.”
“No.”
Richard stepped toward the screen.
“You've proven your point.”
“My point isn't finished.”
“She's a child.”
Marcus looked at Madison.
“She didn't think Emily was a child when she poured sewage over her.”
Madison started crying again.
I said, “It wasn't sewage.”
Everyone looked at me.
I don't know why I said it.
Maybe because everything had become so enormous that accuracy suddenly felt important.
“It was mop water.”
Marcus stared at me.
Then he laughed.
“You're correcting me?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because facts matter.”
His smile faded.
“If you cared about facts, you'd want to know what your father did.”
“I do.”
Dad looked at me.
I kept my eyes on Marcus.
“But I also care what you did.”
His jaw tightened.
“You manipulated Madison. You followed me. You kidnapped her. You hit her.”
Madison stared at me.
I continued.
“You don't get to turn yourself into the hero because other people may have committed worse crimes.”
Marcus leaned toward the camera.
“Your mother would disagree.”
“Don't tell me what my mother would think.”
For the first time, anger overwhelmed my fear.
“You didn't know her.”
“Neither did you.”
The words stabbed me.
I was eleven when Mom died.
Sometimes I couldn't remember the sound of her laugh without watching old videos.
Marcus saw the pain on my face.
He smiled.
Dad stepped forward.
“You speak to my daughter like that again—”
“What?”
Marcus mocked him.
“You'll explain consequences?”
My blood went cold.
He had heard Dad say that earlier.
The microphone.
How long had it been in our home?
My phone buzzed.
Ryan.
I answered immediately.
“I found him.”
“Where?”
Ryan's breathing sounded fast.
“His location app says he's downtown.”
Dad moved closer.
“Where downtown?”
Ryan hesitated.
“Near Catherine Carter's old office.”
Everybody froze.
“Ryan,” I whispered, “are you sure?”
“Yes.”
Behind him I heard a car door slam.
“I'm going there.”
“No!”
My scream made everyone turn.
“Ryan, do not go inside.”
“That's my dad.”
“And Marcus is there.”
“Who is Marcus?”
“Madison's kidnapper.”
Silence.
Then Ryan whispered something I almost didn't hear.
“Oh God.”
“What?”
“I see my dad's car.”
“Stay in yours.”
“There's someone walking toward the building.”
“Ryan—”
“I think it's him.”
The call cut.
“Ryan!”
Nothing.
Dad looked at the detective.
“Send your people.”
“They're already moving.”
Richard laughed bitterly.
“Always moving. Never arriving.”
The detective ignored him.
The livestream shook suddenly.
Marcus turned away.
Someone had entered the office.
We heard a door slam.
Then a man's voice.
“Let her go.”
Ryan's father appeared on camera.
Daniel Mitchell.
He wore a dark suit.
Gray hair.
Glasses.
He looked exactly like I remembered from dinners at our house.
Calm.
Polite.
The man who had once helped me build a science fair display because Dad was stuck in Houston.
Marcus smiled.
“Daniel.”
“Marcus.”
Madison looked between them.
Daniel set down a leather briefcase.
“You wanted me here.”
“Yes.”
“I came.”
“Where's the rest?”
“Gone.”
Marcus's expression darkened.
“You're lying.”
Daniel glanced at Madison.
“Release her.”
“Not until I have the files.”
“What files?” Dad whispered.
Daniel looked directly toward the camera.
I had the strange feeling he knew we were watching.
Then he said, “Jonathan, if you're seeing this, I'm sorry.”
Dad's face collapsed.
Daniel continued.
“Catherine discovered the payment network before I could stop it.”
I felt sick.
Mom hadn't been wrong.
Ryan's father was involved.
Dad whispered, “Why?”
Daniel's voice carried through the livestream.
“My brother was dying.”
Marcus laughed.
“That's your excuse?”
Daniel ignored him.
“My family owed people money. Dangerous people.”
“You laundered bribes through companies,” Marcus said.
“I moved money.”
“You helped poison families.”
“No.”
Daniel's voice cracked.
“I never knew about the dumping until later.”
Dad shouted at the screen.
“You knew before Catherine died!”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Yes.”
Dad staggered backward.
I had never seen that kind of betrayal on his face.
“Did you kill her?” I whispered.
As though hearing me, Daniel looked toward the camera.
“No.”
Dad spoke louder.
“Daniel!”
Daniel turned toward a speaker somewhere in the office.
“No, Jonathan. I did not kill Catherine.”
“Who did?”
“I don't know.”
Marcus pulled something from his waistband.
A handgun.
Madison screamed.
Daniel raised his hands.
“Easy.”
“You know exactly who killed her.”
“I don't.”
“My father told you.”
Daniel froze.
Marcus stepped closer.
“My father came to you after Catherine arranged his escape.”
“No.”
“He trusted you.”
Daniel looked sick.
“He shouldn't have.”
Dad stared at the screen.
“What happened?”
Daniel's shoulders dropped.
“Samuel contacted me in Tulsa.”
Marcus stopped moving.
“What?”
“He said someone followed him.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying!”
Marcus shoved the gun toward him.
Daniel didn't move.
“He wanted another passport. Another identity.”
“Did you give it to him?”
“Yes.”
Marcus's hand trembled.
“Where did he go?”
“I don't know.”
Marcus screamed.
“You always say that!”
Then a second figure stepped into view.
Ryan.
My heart stopped.
He stood behind his father.
“Dad?”
Daniel spun.
“Ryan, get out!”
Marcus turned the gun.
“No!”
I screamed so loudly my throat tore.
Ryan froze.
His face went white.
Daniel moved between his son and the weapon.
“Marcus, don't.”
Marcus stared at Ryan.
Then something changed in his expression.
A terrible idea.
He smiled.
“Perfect.”
He grabbed Ryan by the jacket.
Daniel lunged.
The gun fired.
The livestream exploded into movement.
Madison screamed.
Ryan shouted.
The camera fell sideways.
For several seconds all we could see was the floor.
Then Daniel collapsed into frame.
Blood spread across his shirt.
Ryan's voice broke.
“Dad!”
I couldn't breathe.
Dad gripped the desk with both hands.
May you like
Marcus dragged Ryan out of view.
And somewhere beyond the camera, police sirens began to scream.
