Chapter 13: Nine Days Early
I called Rachel before anyone could stop me.
She answered on the first ring.
“Daniel?””
“Get Emma.””
“What?””
“Go to her room right now.””
Something in my voice made her move.
I heard footsteps.
A door opening.
Then silence.
“Rachel?””
“No.””
My knees nearly gave out.
“Rachel!””
“She’s not here.””
Agent Brooks grabbed my arm.
“Put it on speaker.””
Rachel’s breathing became frantic.
“The window is open.””
“Do not go outside,” Brooks said.
“Lock yourself in a room. Officers are coming.””
“Where is Emma?””
“We're going to find her.””
I couldn't listen anymore.
I called Marcus.
He answered immediately.
“Daniel.””
“Put Emma on.””
“She’s safe.””
“If you touch her—”
“I have never hurt Emma.””
The calmness in his voice made me furious.
“You knew Vanessa locked her in that basement.””
Silence.
“You answered her call.””
“I needed Vanessa to keep control of the situation.””
“She was starving my daughter.””
“Vanessa became unstable.””
“You used her.””
“I didn't tell her to hit Emma.””
“You didn't stop her.””
Marcus sighed.
“We can debate morality later.””
“There is no later.””
“Yes, there is.””
His voice sharpened.
“You're going to give me Sarah’s original ledger and sign the Westbridge closing.””
“You already have Reed’s forged documents.””
“Reed is finished.””
Across the warehouse, agents were leading Reed away in handcuffs.
“What do you need me for?””
“The trust.””
Evelyn's warning flashed through my mind.
“What happens when Emma turns six?””
Marcus went silent.
I knew I had hit something.
“Sarah changed the trust before she died, didn't she?””
“Your wife was vindictive.””
“My wife caught you stealing.””
“She misunderstood how businesses work.””
“She proved you bought your company stake with stolen money.””
His breathing changed.
“Who told you?””
I looked at Evelyn.
“Doesn't matter.””
“It matters very much.””
“Emma turns six in nine days.””
Marcus laughed softly.
“Not anymore.””
My blood went cold.
“What does that mean?””
“Check your email.””
A document arrived.
I opened it.
Amended birth record.
Emma Carter.
Her date of birth had been changed.
Not by nine days.
By one year.
According to the document, Emma turned six today.
“That’s fake.””
“Of course it is.””
“Then it means nothing.””
“It means enough to activate the trust’s verification process.””
Brooks mouthed, Keep him talking.
“What process?””
Marcus sounded almost pleased.
“At age six, Sarah required an independent audit of any disputed assets held for Emma.””
My heart pounded.
“And?””
“And at midnight, the trustee succession locks.””
I looked at Evelyn.
She nodded slowly.
“If you're dead or incapacitated before midnight,” Marcus continued, “the disputed shares remain frozen until Emma reaches eighteen.””
“But if I sign?””
“They transfer into Carter-Hale Holdings as part of a settlement.””
“And you control them.””
“I control forty percent. Vanessa controls forty.””
“Vanessa isn't helping you anymore.””
“That was careless of her.””
I looked across the warehouse.
Vanessa sat wrapped in a blanket while an agent photographed the bruises on her wrists.
“What about Emma’s twenty?””
Marcus chuckled.
“She's five, Daniel.””
“No. According to your forgery, she's six.””
He stopped laughing.
I continued.
“You created your own problem.””
“Bring the ledger.””
“Let me speak to Emma.””
A pause.
Then I heard movement.
“Daddy?””
Everything inside me broke.
“Emma.””
“I want Aunt Rachel.””
“I know, baby.””
“Uncle Marcus said we're going to see you.””
“Listen to me. Are you hurt?””
“No.””
“Are you in a car?””
Marcus grabbed the phone.
“Enough.””
“Marcus, wait—”
“Midnight.””
The call ended.
Brooks immediately turned to her team.
“Trace?””
An agent shook his head.
“Burner. Moving signal.””
I replayed Emma’s voice in my head.
We're going to see you.
Not I'm scared.
Not help me.
Then I remembered something.
The prepaid phone Marcus had given her.
“Her phone.””
Brooks looked at me.
“The burner Marcus gave Emma.””
“It’s evidence.””
“Where?””
“Cole bagged it.””
Cole was already reaching for his radio.
Five minutes later, the answer came back.
The phone was still active.
And it was moving.
Brooks stared at the location feed.
“Interstate 41.””
“Where does that go?””
“North.””
I leaned over the map.
Then I saw the route.
Interstate 41 passed Westbridge’s northern distribution property.
A private airfield sat eleven miles beyond it.
Airfield 17B.
The destination on my canceled Seattle itinerary.
“He's going to the airfield.””
Brooks looked at me.
“Maybe.””
“No. That's where he planned to send me.””
Evelyn stepped closer.
“Daniel.””
I turned.
She held Sarah’s cemetery note.
“There’s something else.””
“What?””
“Sarah wrote the trust so Marcus could never benefit if he was implicated in coercion against Emma.””
Brooks frowned.
“Meaning?””
“If he kidnapped her to force a transfer…”
“He destroys his own claim.””
Evelyn nodded.
“But only if you don't sign.””
My phone buzzed.
Marcus again.
This time, a photograph.
Emma sitting inside a private plane.
She was clutching her pink backpack.
Beneath it:
COME ALONE. BRING THE LEDGER. SIGN BEFORE MIDNIGHT.
I looked at Brooks.
May you like
“We know where he is.””
She was already moving.
