Chapter 12 - THE RUNWAY
Federal agents surrounded the airport, but Darren’s plane began moving before they could close the runway.
I watched from Ortiz’s vehicle as its engines roared.
A black SUV blocked the aircraft’s path.
The plane turned sharply, struck a runway light, and stopped in the grass.
Agents stormed it.
They found the pilot unconscious and Martin Hale tied to a seat.
Darren wasn’t onboard.
He had driven through a maintenance gate minutes earlier wearing a paramedic uniform.
Hale was weak, but he gave us the next piece.
“The certificates aren’t in the bank evidence,” he said. “Emily moved them.”
“Where?”
“She divided them. Darren needs six separate certificates to claim control.”
“Where are they?”
“Hidden inside objects connected to Sophie.”
Darren had learned this from Hale during the abduction.
I thought of Sophie’s room.
Her stuffed animals. Books. Toys. Hundreds of places to hide paper.
Then I remembered the six music boxes Emily bought before Sophie was born. Each played a different lullaby, and each had been given to a family member for safekeeping.
One was in Sophie’s bedroom.
One belonged to Rachel.
One remained at the lake house.
My mother had another.
Hale had stored one in his office.
The final box had been placed in Emily’s coffin.
Darren didn’t need the money from my accounts.
He needed my family to lead him to all six certificates.
The wedding had been designed to place Amanda inside our home, our finances, and Sophie’s life.
I called the officer guarding my house.
No answer.
Then our security alarm sent a notification.
FRONT DOOR OPENED.
I accessed the camera.
Darren walked calmly through my living room holding a pistol.
He looked directly at the camera.
“Come home, Ethan.”
He turned the camera toward the couch.
My mother sat there with tape over her mouth. Blood ran from a cut above her eye.
Darren removed the tape.
“Tell him,” he ordered.
Evelyn stared into the camera.
“Don’t come here.”
Darren pressed the gun against her head.
I grabbed Ortiz’s radio.
“I’m going.”
“No,” she said. “You’re doing exactly what he wants.”
“He has my mother.”
“He wants the music box.”
“Then we give him the wrong one.”
Amanda stood behind us in handcuffs.
“I can make him believe it’s real.”
Ortiz looked at her.
Amanda raised her chin.
“You want Darren? Let me finish the wedding plan.”
We prepared a fake certificate and placed it inside Sophie’s music box.
Then Amanda revealed one last detail.
“The house isn’t where he plans to make the exchange.”
“How do you know?”
May you like
“Because your house is already burning.”
On the security feed, smoke began filling Sophie’s bedroom.
