Chapter 5: The Officer With Two Faces
I had spent enough years in uniform to know when someone was hiding something.
Detective Harris was hiding plenty.
He stood near the entrance, pretending to read a message on his phone.
But his eyes kept moving toward the kitchen.
Toward Lily.
I walked over.
"Detective, I need to ask you something.""
He looked up.
"Make it quick.""
"Do you know a girl named Emma?""
His expression barely changed.
"No.""
"What about Claire Whitmore?""
"I know who she is.""
"She says you shouldn't be trusted.""
His jaw tightened.
"She also has a history of making accusations against her husband.""
"That's interesting.""
"What is?""
"She said you were involved.""
Harris slipped his phone into his pocket.
"Be careful, Mercer. You're not investigating anything. You're a civilian who happened to be in the wrong place.""
"Then why are you worried about what I'm asking?""
He stared at me.
Before he could answer, Maggie shouted from the kitchen.
"Cole!""
I turned.
Lily was standing beside her, holding a small paper napkin.
There was something written on it.
I walked over.
"What's this?""
Lily pointed at the words.
*BLUE HOUSE. RED DOOR. THREE WINDOWS.*
"Did you write this?""
She nodded.
"Emma told me.""
"When?""
"Yesterday.""
I crouched.
"Where were you?""
"Inside Daddy's car.""
She rubbed her wrist.
"Emma was in another car. She put her hand against the window.""
"What did she tell you?""
Lily hesitated.
Then she signed.
*SHE SAID RUN.*
I felt my throat tighten.
"Did Emma tell you anything else?""
Lily nodded.
"She said the man with the badge was bad.""
I glanced toward Harris.
He was no longer pretending to read his phone.
He was walking toward us.
"Lily, sweetheart," he said, forcing a smile.
"Come with me. We need to get you somewhere safe.""
The little girl immediately stepped behind Maggie.
"No.""
Harris sighed.
"You're making this difficult.""
I stood.
"She said no.""
He looked at me.
"Child protective services will handle this.""
"Then let them get here.""
"They're delayed.""
"How convenient.""
His hand moved toward his belt.
I noticed.
So did Maggie.
She grabbed the kitchen door handle.
"Maybe you'd better wait outside, officer.""
Harris laughed.
"Ma'am, stay out of this.""
"This is my diner.""
"And this is a police investigation.""
I stepped between him and the child.
"Take your hand off your belt.""
His eyes narrowed.
"You don't give me orders.""
"Then don't give me a reason.""
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then Maggie's old kitchen television crackled.
A local news report appeared.
The anchor was speaking about an Amber Alert involving a missing six-year-old girl.
A photograph appeared.
Curly brown hair.
A yellow sweater.
A wide smile.
Lily gasped.
"Emma!""
I looked at the screen.
The caption read:
*MISSING CHILD: EMMA RIVERA, AGE SIX.*
The news anchor continued.
"Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. The child's mother, Sofia Rivera, says she believes her daughter may have been taken by someone connected to a private transportation company.""
I turned toward Lily.
"Is that Emma?""
She nodded frantically.
"That's her!""
Then the anchor displayed a second photograph.
A dark SUV.
The license plate was partially visible.
I recognized the vehicle.
It was parked outside the diner.
One of Daniel's black SUVs.
I rushed toward the window.
The vehicle was empty.
The driver's door stood open.
"Harris!""
The detective was already moving toward the exit.
"Where are you going?"" I demanded.
"To secure the perimeter.""
"You're leaving?""
He ignored me.
I grabbed my jacket.
Maggie caught my arm.
"Cole, wait.""
She pointed toward the counter.
There was a small envelope lying beside the register.
"I found this after the men came in.""
"What's inside?""
"I didn't open it.""
I unfolded the paper.
It was a photograph of a white farmhouse with a red door.
Three windows faced the road.
A windmill stood behind it.
And beside the house was a blue mailbox.
On the back, someone had written:
*MIDNIGHT. SEVEN CHILDREN. ONE TRANSFER.*
My phone vibrated.
Unknown number.
I answered.
A man's voice whispered.
"Mercer, if you want the little girl alive, stop asking questions.""
"Who is this?""
"You have until midnight.""
"Where is Emma?""
The man laughed.
"Ask Daniel.""
The line went dead.
I looked at the clock.
9:17 p.m.
Three hours.
Then another message appeared.
This time, it included a photograph.
Lily.
Taken from outside the diner kitchen window.
Someone had been watching her.
The message contained six words.
*WE KNOW WHERE YOU'RE KEEPING HER.*
I turned toward Maggie.
"Get Lily away from the windows.""
She nodded and hurried inside.
I called the dispatcher.
Before I could explain, another voice answered.
"Mercer?""
It was Harris.
He sounded breathless.
"Listen carefully. Don't move.""
"Where are you?""
"Outside.""
I looked through the window.
His police cruiser was gone.
Then I heard him whisper:
"Daniel isn't the one running this operation.""
A pause.
May you like
Then he said the words that changed everything.
"Your little girl is being transferred tonight by someone wearing a police uniform.""
