Chapter 3 - INSIDE THE TEDDY BEAR
We didn't touch the teddy bear without permission.
That mattered.
Owen had already lost enough control over his own life.
So I asked.
“Would you let us look inside?”
His eyes immediately filled with fear.
“Will you give him back?”
“Yes.”
“Promise?”
I held out my hand.
“Promise.”
He slowly gave me the bear.
Airport police documented everything.
Sarah remained beside the twins.
An officer carefully opened the repaired seam.
Inside was a small waterproof pouch.
Rebecca couldn't have known.
Or perhaps she had been searching for it.
The officer removed a flash drive.
A folded note was wrapped around it.
There were only six words.
FOR LILY AND OWEN.
TRUST STEEL.
I stopped breathing for a second.
Marco stared at me.
“Sir.”
I took the note.
I recognized the handwriting.
Ethan Mercer.
Suddenly, this wasn't coincidence.
Ethan had known my name.
But why?
Marco looked at me.
“Did he contact you?”
“No.”
“Then why would he write that?”
I had no answer.
The flash drive was turned over to investigators.
Rebecca's attorney immediately demanded its return.
That demand accomplished the opposite.
Airport police called detectives.
Detectives contacted federal authorities when they learned Ethan's military history.
By midnight, Rebecca was no longer worried about missing her flight.
She was worried about the flash drive.
I stayed with Lily and Owen until Sarah found emergency placement.
Then she told me something I didn't expect.
“The children are asking if you can come.”
I looked through the glass.
Lily was asleep against Owen's shoulder.
Owen was still awake.
Watching the door.
Waiting for someone else to disappear.
“I'll come.”
Marco smiled faintly.
“Thought you might.”
Before they left, Owen walked over.
He held out his teddy bear.
“You forgot.”
“No, buddy.”
I pushed it gently back toward him.
“He belongs with you.”
Owen hugged it.
Then he looked up.
“My dad knew you.”
I crouched.
“I think he did.”
“He said good soldiers don't leave people behind.”
My throat tightened.
“Your dad was right.”
Owen nodded.
Then he said something I would remember for the rest of my life.
“So you won't leave us either?”
I looked at Lily.
Then at Owen.
“No.”
I had made promises in war zones.
Promises to soldiers.
Promises to families.
Promises to myself.
But that one frightened me most.
May you like
Because somewhere inside that flash drive was the reason Ethan Mercer had trusted me with his children.
And I was beginning to suspect his death hadn't been an accident.
