Chapter 13 - DANIEL’S LAST INSURANCE POLICY
The storage unit was across town.
Police went first.
I followed with Ruiz while Sophie stayed at a secure location with Vanessa and Officer Keller.
I trusted Vanessa now more than my own parents.
That thought hurt.
But truth had been expensive tonight.
The storage facility manager opened Unit 314.
Boxes lined the walls.
Furniture covered with sheets.
Daniel’s old desk sat in the back.
I walked past it.
“Sophie’s things are here.”
A plastic bin marked SCHOOL / KEEPSAKES sat beneath two Christmas boxes.
I pulled it out.
Inside was the old shoebox.
Tickets.
Drawings.
Photos.
No blue box.
My heart sank.
Then I remembered Sophie’s words.
Daddy gave it to me.
Not Mom.
A grown-up secret.
Daniel knew our daughter.
He knew what she loved.
I looked toward a pink toy chest.
Ruiz followed my eyes.
“What?”
“Her horses.”
Inside were dozens of plastic horses.
Some missing legs.
Some covered in marker.
And one large wooden stable Daniel had built himself.
I lifted it.
Something rattled inside.
Ruiz crouched beside me.
“There.”
A small panel beneath the stable had been screwed shut.
Police photographed everything before opening it.
Inside was a blue metal box.
My hands started shaking.
Ruiz opened it with a key taped underneath.
There were three things inside.
A letter.
A memory card.
And a small digital recorder.
The letter had my name.
Rachel,
If you are reading this, something went wrong.
I stopped.
Ruiz waited.
I forced myself to continue.
Preston knows I found the fake contracts. I copied everything. I’m meeting your father tonight because I still believe he’ll do the right thing.
If I don’t come home, don’t believe the first story you hear.
Protect Sophie.
I love you both more than I know how to say.
Daniel.
I pressed the paper against my mouth.
Three years.
He had tried to tell me.
The recorder contained conversations between Daniel and Preston.
Threats.
Bribes.
One argument where Preston said:
“You report me, and you destroy this entire family.”
Daniel answered:
“No. You did that when you stole the money.”
The memory card was worse.
Bank records.
Fake companies.
Transfers.
Payments to Harris.
Everything.
Ruiz exhaled slowly.
“This may be enough to establish motive and conspiracy.”
I closed my eyes.
Then her radio crackled.
An officer’s voice came through.
“Detective, we have a problem.”
Ruiz grabbed it.
“What?”
“Preston’s gone.”
My eyes flew open.
“What do you mean gone?”
“He escaped transport.”
The radio crackled again.
May you like
Then came the sentence that made my blood stop.
“We believe he knows where Sophie is.”
