Chapter 6 - Emily’s Final Recording
Agent Bennett took the flash drive to a secure laboratory.
No one was allowed to connect it to an ordinary computer.
We waited four hours.
Sophie watched cartoons with a state officer while I sat across from Hale.
Neither of us spoke much.
Every thought led back to Emily.
Had she known she was being followed?
Had she been afraid?
Had she tried to call me?
Why had she kept the investigation secret?
At last, Agent Bennett entered the room carrying a laptop.
“The drive is clean.”
She placed it on the table.
“There are three video files.”
The first recording showed Emily inside her car.
The date was twelve days before her death.
Her hair was tied back.
Her face was pale.
“If you are watching this, something happened to me.”
My throat closed.
Emily looked directly into the camera.
“Daniel, I am sorry.”
“I should have told you sooner.”
“Your father has been paying Dr. Caroline Reed to produce reports used in custody cases.”
“Your mother identifies families with assets.”
“Bethany creates conflict.”
“Chief Pierce pressures witnesses.”
“They call it protection.”
“But it is theft.”
Emily held up several printed pages.
“One child is placed with a relative.”
“The relative gains access to property or trust funds.”
“The original parent is discredited until they cannot afford to fight.”
“Some parents leave.”
“Some break.”
“One disappeared.”
Hale paused the recording.
“Ryan?”
“Maybe,” Bennett said.
The video continued.
Emily’s eyes filled with fear.
“I copied the ledger from your father’s office.”
“I gave one copy to Rachel Moore.”
“I hid another somewhere they will never search.”
“They know I have evidence.”
“Your father followed me yesterday.”
“Daniel, do not confront him alone.”
“Take Sophie and leave.”
“I love you.”
The screen went black.
I covered my face.
For eighteen months, I had believed Emily’s last day was ordinary.
She kissed Sophie before work.
She reminded me to buy milk.
She complained about the weather.
She had been terrified the entire time.
The second recording showed my father meeting Chief Pierce beside a warehouse.
Pierce handed him a bag.
My father handed him an envelope.
The date was one week before Emily’s death.
The third video was shorter.
It had been recorded from inside Emily’s car.
Rain struck the windshield.
My father’s vehicle followed closely behind.
Emily was breathing fast.
She whispered my name.
Then headlights appeared from the opposite lane.
A truck moved directly toward her.
The recording ended with the sound of impact.
I stood so quickly the chair fell over.
“He killed her.”
Bennett raised a hand.
“We cannot prove your father controlled the truck.”
“He followed her.”
“That proves pursuit.”
“Not murder.”
“What about the missing driver?”
“We are reopening the case.”
My phone rang.
Ryan again.
“I know who drove the truck,” he said.
Everyone in the room froze.
“Who?”
“His name is Carl Denson.”
“He worked for your father.”
“Where is he?”
“Dead.”
The answer hit like another blow.
“How?”
“Officially, an overdose.”
“Unofficially, he told someone he was leaving town.”
Ryan sent us a photograph.
Carl stood beside my father at a construction site.
The picture was ten years old.
Hale examined it.
“Your father claimed he never knew the truck driver.”
“He lied,” I said.
Ryan continued.
“Carl had a brother.”
“His name is Aaron.”
“He may still be alive.”
“Where?”
“I can take you to him.”
Bennett refused immediately.
“You are not taking Daniel anywhere.”
Ryan’s voice sharpened.
“Then Aaron will disappear too.”
“We can place him under protection.”
“You do not know where he is.”
“Tell us.”
“I will tell Daniel in person.”
Bennett looked at me.
“No.”
I understood her concern.
But I also understood Ryan.
He had trusted institutions before.
They had failed him.
“I will meet him,” I said.
“You are a protected witness.”
“I am also Emily’s husband.”
Bennett stood.
“And Sophie’s father.”
That stopped me.
Sophie needed me alive.
Before anyone could decide, an officer entered the room.
“Agent Bennett, Dr. Caroline Reed has been located.”
“Where?”
“At a private airport.”
“Was she arrested?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
“She has a hostage.”
My blood went cold.
“Who?”
The officer looked at me.
“Mrs. Lane.”
“The school counselor.”
Caroline had forced her into a hangar.
She demanded a vehicle and safe passage.
But her message was not directed at police.
It was directed at me.
She wanted the flash drive.
May you like
And she claimed she had another recording.
One that would prove who ordered Emily’s death.
