Chapter 14 - THE EXCHANGE
Mark’s son was eleven.
Evan.
Rebecca had taken him outside school using a fake emergency pickup authorization.
Another forged document.
Another child used as leverage.
Mark showed us the message.
BRING EMILY TO THE OLD MILL AT 6:00 A.M.
NO POLICE.
YOU GET EVAN.
I GET THE GIRL.
I wanted to kill her.
Hall saw it on my face.
“Don’t.”
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You didn’t need to.”
Police built a plan.
No real Emily.
No uncontrolled exchange.
An undercover officer would be used.
But Mark shook his head.
“She knows Emily.”
“So?”
“She’ll see the difference.”
I looked at Hall.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“She wants me.”
“She wants your daughter.”
“She wants control.”
Hall stared at me.
I continued.
“Rebecca likes people watching her win.”
That was the first useful thing I had learned from two years of living with her.
“She won’t take Emily without making me see it.”
Hall hated the idea.
But at 5:48 a.m., I walked into the abandoned mill.
Wearing a wire.
No weapon.
Mark came with me.
Emily was miles away.
Safe with Claire.
At least that was the plan.
Rebecca stepped from the shadows.
She looked tired.
Nothing like a bride anymore.
Dark jeans.
Black coat.
Hair cut short.
“Daniel.”
“Where’s Evan?”
She smiled.
“Still impatient.”
“Where is he?”
A door opened.
Evan stood behind her.
Hands tied.
Mouth taped.
Mark surged forward.
Rebecca raised a gun.
“Stop.”
Mark froze.
I stared at her.
“This is over.”
“No.”
Rebecca smiled.
“It’s almost over.”
“What do you want?”
“Emily.”
“You’re never touching her again.”
Rebecca’s expression hardened.
“You think this is about affection?”
“No.”
“Good.”
She waved the gun slightly.
“She’s the key.”
“The trust is frozen.”
“For now.”
“Robert is cooperating.”
“Robert is weak.”
“Mercer is in custody.”
“Mercer is stupid.”
“Michael’s body was found.”
That finally hit her.
Her eyes changed.
Only slightly.
“You killed him?”
She smiled.
“Did I?”
Police were recording everything.
I needed her talking.
“What happened?”
“Michael got greedy.”
“Mercer says you hit him.”
“Mercer lies.”
“So do you.”
Her smile vanished.
“You always were self-righteous.”
“You studied me for years and still didn’t learn one thing.”
“What?”
“You should never have involved Emily.”
Rebecca laughed.
“You involved her the day you inherited Sarah’s money through her.”
“It was never mine.”
“That’s your problem.”
She stepped closer.
“You had millions sitting there and treated it like a shrine.”
“It belonged to my daughter.”
“It belonged to dead people and paperwork.”
Mark whispered:
“You’re insane.”
Rebecca aimed the gun at him.
“No, Mark. I’m practical.”
Then Evan moved.
He kicked Rebecca’s knee.
She screamed.
The gun fired.
Mark tackled her.
I grabbed Evan.
Police burst through the doors.
Rebecca fought like an animal.
Kicking.
Screaming.
Clawing.
Two officers pinned her down.
Then she laughed.
Actually laughed.
“You idiots!”
Hall cuffed her.
Rebecca looked at me.
“You think Emily is safe?”
My heart stopped.
Hall froze.
Rebecca smiled through blood on her lip.
“You left her with Claire.”
I couldn’t breathe.
Only four people knew that.
Me.
Hall.
Claire.
And Mark.
Mark was staring at Rebecca.
Then his face changed.
“My phone.”
Hall grabbed it.
Rebecca had cloned Mark’s phone.
She knew the safe-house location.
I ran.
I don’t remember leaving the mill.
I don’t remember the drive.
I only remember calling Claire over and over.
No answer.
When we reached the safe house, the front door was open.
A chair lay on its side.
The living room window was broken.
“Emily!”
Nothing.
I ran upstairs.
Empty.
Then I heard a tiny sound.
From the closet.
I ripped the door open.
Emily was curled inside.
Alive.
Claire was beside her.
Bleeding from the forehead.
I dropped to my knees.
Emily threw herself into my arms.
“She came!”
“Who?”
“A lady.”
“What lady?”
“Rebecca’s sister.”
Diane.
She had escaped custody after being released under supervision.
Claire had fought her off.
Police caught Diane two blocks away.
When they brought Rebecca past me later, she stared at Emily.
Emily hid behind my coat.
Rebecca smiled at her.
“You caused all of this.”
I moved toward Rebecca.
Then Emily stepped out.
Her voice shook.
But she spoke clearly.
“No.”
Rebecca stared at her.
Emily held my hand.
May you like
“You did.”
For the first time since I had known Rebecca, she had no answer.
