Chapter 13 - VANESSA’S CHOICE
The blond woman reached for her waistband.
Vanessa raised the gun.
“Don’t.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Step away from her.”
“Keller said—”
“Keller’s in the hospital.”
The woman looked past Vanessa.
“You alone?”
“Yes.”
“Then you’re stupid.”
“Maybe.”
Maisie recognized the voice.
“Vanessa?”
Vanessa looked at her.
The child was pressed against the wall.
Bare feet.
Red eyes.
Terrified.
Vanessa’s grip tightened.
“It’s okay, bug.”
“Where’s Benny?”
Vanessa almost broke.
“I’m gonna find him.”
The blond woman lunged.
Vanessa fired into the wall beside her.
The room exploded with sound.
Maisie screamed.
“Next one won’t miss,” Vanessa said.
The woman froze.
“Phone.”
“What?”
“Give me your phone.”
The woman slowly handed it over.
Vanessa backed toward Maisie.
“Come here.”
Maisie hesitated.
Vanessa lowered the gun.
“I know I scared you.”
The little girl stared.
“I know I did bad things.”
No response.
“I’m sorry.”
Maisie’s lip trembled.
“Daddy locked it.”
“I know.”
“You didn’t open it.”
Vanessa closed her eyes for half a second.
“No.”
“Why?”
There was no answer that could fit inside a three-year-old’s world.
“Because I was a coward.”
Maisie did not know that word.
But she knew the tone.
She walked toward Vanessa.
Vanessa picked her up.
The blond woman said, “Voss will kill you.”
Vanessa looked at her.
“Get in line.”
She left through the back.
A stolen sedan waited behind the motel.
Vanessa put Maisie in the rear seat.
“No car seat,” she muttered.
Maisie started crying again.
“Hey. Look at me.”
“I want Grandma.”
“I know.”
“Where are we going?”
Vanessa stared at her.
That was the question.
Police?
If she drove to police, Gideon would disappear.
The files might not be enough.
The recording was old.
Witnesses were dead.
Companies were buried under layers of lawyers.
But Gideon believed Vanessa had Maisie.
He would come for her.
He would talk.
Maybe finally, after twenty years, he would say the wrong thing.
Vanessa made the choice that would later divide everyone who heard the story.
She did not call police.
She drove Maisie to an abandoned house on Mercer Street.
The house where Vanessa had lived with Miriam before foster care.
The house Gideon did not know she remembered.
She used the blond woman’s phone.
Sent one message.
I HAVE THE GIRL. COME ALONE.
Gideon replied in less than thirty seconds.
WHERE?
Vanessa sent the address.
Then she called Morales.
The detective answered instantly.
“Who is this?”
“It’s me.”
“Vanessa?”
“I have Maisie.”
Silence.
Then Morales’s voice changed.
“Put her on the phone.”
Vanessa handed it back.
“Say hi.”
“Hi.”
Evelyn’s voice suddenly came through.
“Maisie!”
“Grandma!”
Vanessa looked away as Maisie started crying.
“I want you.”
“I know, baby. I’m coming.”
Morales returned.
“Vanessa, give me your location.”
“No.”
“Do not do this.”
“I can get him.”
“You have a kidnapped child with you.”
“I rescued her.”
“And now you are keeping her from us.”
Vanessa flinched.
“He’ll run if he sees police.”
“Let him run.”
“No.”
“You are not law enforcement.”
“I know.”
“You are not her mother.”
Vanessa’s face tightened.
“I know.”
“Then bring her home.”
Vanessa looked at Maisie.
For one second, she almost did.
Then headlights appeared through the broken front window.
A black sedan.
Vanessa whispered, “Too late.”
Morales heard her.
May you like
“What?”
“He’s here.”
