Chapter 4 - SOMEONE CAME FOR SOPHIE
Ethan was out the door before Hale could stop him.
“I’m driving.”
Hale grabbed his keys.
“You’re in no condition.”
They reached Rachel’s house in twelve minutes.
Two patrol cars arrived behind them.
The black SUV was gone.
The back door stood open.
Glass covered the kitchen floor.
“Rachel!”
Ethan rushed inside.
“Up here!”
He ran upstairs.
Rachel sat inside the bathroom with Sophie locked against her chest.
Sophie was crying.
Ethan dropped beside them.
“You’re okay.”
Sophie grabbed him.
“Daddy.”
“I’m here.”
Rachel was shaking.
“He came through the kitchen.”
“Did you see him?”
“Male.”
“What did he want?”
“I don’t know.”
Hale entered.
Rachel looked at him.
“He kept saying one thing.”
“What?”
“Where is the girl?”
Ethan’s stomach tightened.
Hale crouched.
“Did you recognize his voice?”
“No.”
“Height?”
“Tall.”
“Clothes?”
“Dark hoodie.”
Rachel swallowed.
“He had gloves.”
Hale looked toward Ethan.
Not a random burglary.
Someone had come prepared.
Sophie suddenly spoke.
“I know him.”
Everyone froze.
Ethan knelt.
“Who?”
“The man.”
“What man?”
“The man who comes when you’re gone.”
Rachel’s face changed.
Ethan tried to keep his voice calm.
“What does he look like?”
Sophie thought.
“He has a scratch.”
“Where?”
She touched her cheek.
“Here.”
Hale took out his phone.
“Does he have a name?”
Sophie nodded.
“Uncle Cole.”
Ethan looked at Hale.
“Cole?”
Hale went still.
“What?”
“Daniel Cross had a younger brother.”
Ethan stared.
“Name?”
“Cole Cross.”
Rachel whispered, “Why would Vanessa’s dead husband’s brother be coming here?”
Hale stood.
“Maybe he isn’t coming for Sophie.”
“What do you mean?”
“Maybe he thinks she knows something.”
Sophie buried her face against Ethan.
“I saw Vanessa give him money.”
Ethan’s pulse jumped.
“When?”
“Yesterday.”
“Where?”
“Garage.”
Rachel looked stunned.
“You mean Cole was at your house?”
Sophie nodded.
“She said I wasn’t supposed to see.”
Hale grabbed his radio.
“Put out an alert for Cole Cross.”
Ethan lifted Sophie.
“Why would Vanessa pay him?”
Hale didn’t answer immediately.
Then his phone rang.
He listened.
His expression became grim.
“What?”
He hung up.
“Vanessa’s gone.”
Ethan stared.
“What do you mean gone?”
“Officer was following her to her attorney’s office.”
“And?”
“She never arrived.”
Hale looked toward Sophie.
“Her car was found abandoned near Pacific Coast Highway.”
Rachel whispered, “She ran.”
Hale shook his head.
“Maybe.”
“What else?”
“Blood was found on the driver’s seat.”
Ethan’s stomach dropped.
Then Hale’s phone buzzed again.
A photograph arrived.
He stared at it.
“Jesus.”
“What?”
Hale showed Ethan.
Written across Vanessa’s windshield in red marker were five words.
YOU SHOULD HAVE KEPT QUIET.
Sophie looked at the image.
Then she whispered something Ethan barely heard.
“That’s what Vanessa says.”
He looked down.
“What?”
Sophie pointed at the message.
“When she gets mad.”
Ethan’s heart stopped.
“Who does she say it to?”
Sophie looked at him.
“To Uncle Cole.”
May you like
And suddenly Ethan wondered if Vanessa had run from the police…
Or if Cole Cross had finally come to collect a debt.
