Chapter 11 - The Woman Who Ran
Richard was arrested at the quarry.
Bethany was transported to the hospital under police supervision.
Rosie refused to release Mark’s hand.
Caroline Wells arrived with another county representative.
Mark stood between them and his daughter.
“You are not taking her again.”
Caroline looked at Rosie’s dirty face and torn sweatshirt.
“No one is placing her with your parents.”
“That is not what I said.”
“The emergency order still restricts unsupervised contact.”
Mark stared at her.
“My father kidnapped her.”
“I know.”
“My mother helped him escape.”
“I know.”
“My sister confessed to abusing her.”
“I know.”
“And you are telling me I still cannot take my daughter home?”
Caroline lowered her voice.
“I am telling you the judge must formally change the order.”
Rosie tightened her grip.
“Daddy comes with me.”
Caroline knelt.
“Yes.”
“He comes with you.”
The county placed Mark and Rosie together in a protected family room at the hospital.
A social worker remained outside the door.
Mark bathed the dust from Rosie’s hair.
He covered her bruised arms with clean pajamas.
Then he held her until she fell asleep.
At three in the morning, Detective Cole entered.
“Diane abandoned the vehicle near the interstate.”
“Did you find her?”
“No.”
“Where would she go?”
“Bethany gave us three possible locations.”
Mark looked at Rosie.
“What was on the recording?”
“Bethany says Diane placed a small audio recorder inside Emily’s house.”
“Why?”
“She wanted proof Emily had hidden copies of the trust records.”
“Did it record the entire confrontation?”
“According to Bethany, yes.”
“Then it proves what Richard did.”
“It may.”
“Why would Diane keep something that incriminates him?”
“Insurance.”
Mark was not surprised.
His parents had not built a marriage.
They had built a hostage agreement.
Detective Cole continued.
“Diane called Richard’s attorney twenty minutes ago.”
“What did she want?”
“Immunity and access to the frozen funds.”
“In exchange for the recording?”
“Yes.”
“Will the prosecutor agree?”
“Not to full immunity.”
“She will destroy it.”
“That is what we expect.”
Mark checked his phone.
There was a missed call from his cousin Lucas.
Lucas had been at the dining table the night Rosie was hurt.
He was also one of the relatives who told police Bethany had done nothing.
Mark called him back.
Lucas answered in a whisper.
“I need to see you.”
“You lied to the police.”
“My father made me.”
“You are thirty years old.”
“I know.”
“You watched them hurt my daughter.”
“I did not know they had hurt her before dinner.”
“You saw her face.”
“Mark, listen to me.”
“I followed Aunt Diane.”
Mark stood.
“Where is she?”
“At the cemetery.”
Mark looked through the hospital window.
Emily’s grave was fifteen minutes away.
“Why?”
“She has a metal box.”
Detective Cole was already calling officers.
Lucas continued.
“She opened Emily’s grave marker.”
“What does that mean?”
“There is a hidden compartment in the base.”
Mark remembered Diane volunteering to choose Emily’s headstone.
He remembered thanking her for paying the extra cost.
“Do not approach her.”
“She already saw me.”
A sharp sound came through the phone.
Lucas gasped.
The line dropped.
Detective Cole moved toward the door.
“Stay here.”
Mark looked at Rosie.
Then he looked at the stuffed rabbit beside her pillow.
For the first time since the nightmare began, Rosie was sleeping peacefully.
Mark kissed her forehead.
He followed Detective Cole into the hallway.
The social worker blocked him.
“You cannot leave Rosie unattended.”
Mark pointed through the door.
May you like
“You stay with her.”
“She wakes up, you tell her I went to bring her mother home.”
