Chapter 7 - WHERE IS SOPHIE?
Ethan reached Rachel’s house to find half the street filled with police.
Rachel stood barefoot in the driveway.
“He took her.”
Ethan grabbed her shoulders.
“Did you see him?”
“No.”
“Anybody?”
“A neighbor saw a gray sedan.”
Hale approached.
“Amber Alert is out.”
Ethan turned on him.
“That’s not enough!”
“We’re doing everything.”
“She’s four!”
“I know.”
“No, you don’t!”
Hale let him shout.
Then he said quietly, “Losing control won’t find her.”
Ethan stepped back.
His chest hurt.
He couldn’t breathe properly.
Rachel touched his arm.
“I’m sorry.”
He shook his head.
“No.”
“It was my house.”
“This started because I left her alone with Vanessa.”
“Ethan.”
“I should have seen it.”
“You didn’t know.”
“I saw bruises.”
Rachel went silent.
“I accepted an explanation because accepting it was easier than canceling a trip.”
Rachel grabbed his face.
“Listen to me.”
He looked at her.
“You can hate yourself later.”
Her eyes filled.
“Right now, Sophie needs her father.”
Ethan closed his eyes.
Then Hale’s phone rang.
“We found the sedan.”
“Where?”
“Abandoned near Topanga Canyon.”
Ethan was already moving.
They found Sophie’s pink sweater inside the car.
Nothing else.
No blood.
No child.
Then an officer discovered a phone beneath the passenger seat.
Burner phone.
Only one outgoing call.
Vanessa.
Hale stared at Ethan.
“She knew.”
They returned to the station.
Vanessa sat in an interview room with her attorney.
When Ethan entered, she looked startled.
“Where’s Sophie?”
Vanessa stood.
“What happened?”
“Cole took her.”
Her face changed.
“No.”
Hale placed the burner phone on the table.
“He called you.”
Vanessa stared.
“No.”
“Three hours ago.”
Her attorney whispered, “Do not answer.”
Ethan slammed both hands on the table.
“Where is my daughter?”
Vanessa flinched.
“I don’t know!”
“You talked to him!”
“He called me!”
“What did he say?”
Vanessa looked toward her attorney.
Ethan’s voice broke.
“She is four years old.”
Vanessa closed her eyes.
Her lawyer began, “My client—”
“Shut up!”
The room went silent.
Ethan stared at Vanessa.
“You hurt her.”
Vanessa’s eyes filled.
“You lied to me.”
A tear fell.
“You scared her into silence.”
Another.
“If there is one human piece left inside you, tell me where Cole took my daughter.”
Vanessa began shaking.
Then she whispered, “The cabin.”
Hale leaned forward.
“What cabin?”
“Daniel’s family had one near Big Bear.”
“Address.”
“I don’t know.”
Hale swore.
Vanessa suddenly looked at Ethan.
“There’s a red mailbox.”
“That helps nothing.”
“Wait.”
She stood.
“Daniel called it Juniper House.”
Hale immediately radioed officers.
Vanessa grabbed Ethan’s wrist.
“Cole won’t hurt her if he thinks I’m coming.”
Ethan stared at her.
“Why?”
“Because he doesn’t want Sophie.”
“Then what does he want?”
Vanessa looked toward the one-way glass.
“Me.”
“Why?”
Her face collapsed.
“Because Daniel didn’t die when he hit the water.”
The room froze.
Ethan whispered, “What?”
Vanessa covered her mouth.
“He was still alive.”
Hale’s voice turned deadly calm.
“What happened?”
Vanessa cried harder.
“Cole went into the water after him.”
“To save him?”
She shook her head.
“No.”
Ethan felt sick.
Vanessa whispered the truth.
May you like
“Cole held Daniel under.”
And now that same man had Ethan’s daughter.
