Chapter 8: The Case
We didn't stop until we reached the highway.
Ariana's mother was crying silently in the passenger seat.
I kept checking the rearview mirror.
No headlights.
No black SUV.
Nothing.
But I couldn't stop shaking.
Daniel was alive.
Somewhere behind us.
Or maybe—
I refused to finish the thought.
The black case sat on the floor between my feet.
It had one combination lock.
I tried Daniel's birthday.
Nothing.
Our wedding anniversary.
Nothing.
Miles's birthday.
The lock clicked.
I froze.
Ariana's mother stared down.
“You opened it.””
Inside were three hard drives, a stack of photographs, and a handwritten notebook.
I picked up the notebook.
The first page contained Daniel's handwriting.
*If Laura finds this, it means they finally found me.*
My vision blurred.
I turned the page.
*David is involved. But he isn't the one in charge.*
Ariana's mother leaned closer.
“Who is?””
I kept reading.
Daniel had written names.
Dates.
Property numbers.
Payments.
One name appeared repeatedly.
*Richard Cole.*
I stared at it.
“Cole?””
Ariana's mother went still.
“That's my last name.””
I looked at her.
“Your husband?””
She shook her head.
“My husband's name is Anthony.””
“Then who is Richard?””
“I don't know.””
I flipped through the pages.
Daniel had drawn a family tree.
At the bottom was Ariana's name.
Then her mother's.
Then a line leading to Richard Cole.
I stared.
“Why is your daughter connected to him?””
She began trembling.
“I don't know.””
My phone rang.
Unknown number.
I answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice said, “You opened the case.””
I stopped breathing.
“Who is this?””
“You need to listen carefully.””
“Where is my husband?””
“He's alive.””
“Where?””
“Not for long if you keep asking questions.””
I gripped the phone.
“What do you want?””
“The case.””
“No.””
A quiet laugh.
“You have until midnight.””
“Or what?””
“They will send you proof that Daniel isn't the only person you lost.””
The line went dead.
Ariana's mother looked at me.
“Who was that?””
I told her.
Then my phone buzzed.
A message.
An image.
Miles.
He was sitting alone in a room.
His wrists weren't tied.
But someone stood behind him.
I couldn't see the person's face.
Underneath the photograph were five words:
*YOU HAVE UNTIL MIDNIGHT.*
I nearly dropped the phone.
“We have to go back.””
Ariana's mother grabbed my arm.
“No.””
“My son is there.””
“And if you go back without a plan, they'll take you too.””
I looked at the clock.
10:17 p.m.
We had less than two hours.
I called Principal Bennett.
He answered immediately.
“Mrs. Harris?””
“Miles has been taken.””
“What?””
I explained.
His voice hardened.
“Send me the photograph.””
I did.
There was silence.
Then he said, “I know that room.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“I've seen it before.””
“Where?””
“Ethan's school records.””
“What does that mean?””
“There was a disciplinary report from last year. A storage facility near the school.””
“Which one?””
“Jefferson Community Center.””
I stared at Ariana's mother.
She shook her head.
“That's impossible.””
“Why?””
“I clean that building too.””
A cold realization hit me.
The people behind this hadn't chosen Ariana randomly.
They hadn't chosen Miles randomly.
They had been watching both families.
For years.
I opened Daniel's notebook again.
Near the back was a single sentence.
*The girl is the key.*
I looked at Ariana's mother.
Then at the photograph of Miles.
“Why Ariana?””
Before she could answer, another message arrived.
This time, there was no photograph.
Only a sentence.
*Ask Ariana what her mother found inside the cleaning cart.*
May you like
Ariana's mother covered her mouth.
“I never told anyone about that.””
