Chapter 9: The Therapist Who Knew Too Much
I stared at Detective Bennett.
"Disappeared?""
She nodded.
"His apartment was found empty. His car was abandoned near the airport. His phone was switched off.""
I felt the room closing in.
"Why are you looking for him?""
Detective Bennett glanced at the letter.
"Because he's connected to another investigation.""
"What investigation?""
"An attempted insurance fraud case involving a patient who suffered a serious accident under suspicious circumstances.""
I swallowed.
"Me?""
"We believe so.""
Vanessa suddenly stood.
"That's ridiculous. Daniel helped Michael recover.""
Detective Bennett looked at her.
"How well do you know Mr. Brooks?""
Vanessa froze.
"Not very well.""
Richard let out a nervous laugh.
"Can we stop pretending every person Michael has ever met is part of some conspiracy?""
The detective ignored him.
She turned toward Dr. Harrison.
"Did you know Daniel Brooks?""
He hesitated.
"Yes.""
"How?""
"He worked with several of my patients.""
"Did you recommend him to Michael?""
Dr. Harrison nodded.
"Yes.""
"Who requested that recommendation?""
The doctor looked toward Vanessa.
She stared at the floor.
Detective Bennett repeated the question.
"Who requested it?""
Finally, he answered.
"Richard.""
Richard slammed his hand against his knee.
"That's enough!""
The detective turned toward him.
"Mr. Reed, I strongly recommend you remain silent until your attorney arrives.""
I looked at Richard.
"Why did you choose my physical therapist?""
He shook his head.
"I didn't choose anyone.""
"Then why did Dr. Harrison say you did?""
"Because he's trying to save himself.""
I looked at the doctor.
"Did Daniel know about the medication?""
He hesitated.
Then nodded.
"Yes.""
"Did he know I was recovering?""
"Yes.""
"Did he know I could walk?""
Dr. Harrison looked at me.
"He was the first person to tell me your progress had become significant.""
I frowned.
"When?""
"About three weeks ago.""
My stomach tightened.
"That's when he told me I could walk independently.""
The doctor nodded.
I remembered Daniel's office.
The sunlight coming through the blinds.
The way he had smiled when I took my first independent steps.
He had clapped his hands.
"Look at you, Michael. You're getting your life back.""
I had trusted him.
I had even told him I wanted to surprise Sophie.
And I had told him I wasn't planning to reveal my recovery to Vanessa yet.
A horrible possibility entered my mind.
"Did Daniel know I was hiding my recovery from my wife?""
Dr. Harrison looked down.
"Yes.""
I closed my eyes.
The pieces were beginning to fit.
Detective Bennett asked the officers to take Richard and Dr. Harrison into separate rooms for questioning.
Vanessa remained on the sofa.
I turned toward her.
"Did you know Daniel was involved?""
She shook her head.
"Michael, I swear I didn't.""
"Did you ever meet him outside my appointments?""
"No.""
"Did he call you?""
She hesitated.
That hesitation was enough.
"Vanessa.""
She covered her face.
"Once.""
"When?""
"About a month ago.""
"What did he want?""
She looked toward the detective.
"He said Michael was improving faster than expected. He said the rehabilitation plan might have to change.""
I stared at her.
"And?""
"He asked whether I wanted to continue with the original arrangement.""
My heart pounded.
"What did you say?""
She whispered, "I said yes.""
I took a step backward.
"You knew I was getting better, and you still agreed to continue?""
She started crying.
"I was already in too deep.""
"That's not an answer.""
"He said there was too much money involved. He said if I stopped, Richard would expose everything I had done.""
I looked at her.
"And what exactly had you done?""
She reached into her purse and removed a small envelope.
"I kept this.""
She placed it on the coffee table.
Inside were three photographs and a printed email.
The first photograph showed Daniel standing outside our house.
The second showed him speaking with Richard in a parking garage.
The third showed him holding a small black case.
I unfolded the email.
It was addressed to Vanessa.
*Subject: Final Medical Review*
The message contained only two sentences.
The patient has shown unexpected improvement. We need to arrange a final intervention before he becomes fully independent.
At the bottom was Daniel's signature.
I handed it to Detective Bennett.
She examined it carefully.
"Where did you get this?""
"Daniel sent it to me," Vanessa whispered.
"When?""
"Two weeks ago.""
"Why didn't you tell anyone?""
Vanessa began sobbing.
"Because he threatened me.""
I stared at her.
"What did he threaten?""
She looked directly at me.
"He said if Michael survived the next procedure, he would make sure Sophie disappeared.""
My blood turned cold.
I immediately reached for my phone.
"Sophie!""
The child protection specialist had taken her upstairs with one of the officers.
I called out again.
No answer.
I rushed toward the staircase.
Detective Bennett followed.
"Mr. Hayes, what's wrong?""
"Sophie is upstairs.""
We reached her bedroom.
The door was open.
Her pink tablet lay on the bed.
Her stuffed rabbit was on the floor.
But Sophie was gone.
The officer who had been assigned to watch her stood near the bathroom, looking confused.
"Where is my daughter?"" I demanded.
He turned pale.
"She was right here a minute ago.""
Detective Bennett immediately radioed the other officers.
"Secure the exits! We have a missing child!""
I ran into the hallway.
Then I heard something.
A faint tapping.
Three little knocks.
It was coming from the bedroom closet.
I opened the door.
Sophie was crouched inside, holding her tablet against her chest.
I dropped to my knees.
"Baby! What are you doing in here?""
She threw her arms around me.
"Daddy, I was hiding.""
"From who?""
She pointed toward the window.
"That man.""
I looked outside.
A dark SUV was parked across the street.
The driver's door was open.
And standing beside it was Daniel Brooks.
He was holding a phone to his ear.
Then he looked directly toward Sophie's bedroom window.
My phone vibrated.
An unknown number.
I opened the message.
There was a photograph of Sophie taken less than a minute earlier.
Underneath it were seven words.
*You have until midnight to return what belongs to me.*
I looked toward the window again.
Daniel was gone.
May you like
And Detective Bennett, after reading the message, said something that made my heart stop.
"Michael, we need to get your daughter out of this house. That man isn't acting alone.""
