Chapter 14 - The Truth Outside
“Because helping us doesn’t erase what he did.”
Sarah answered before anyone else could.
Emily watched the handcuffs close around Vincent’s wrists.
“But he came when I asked.”
“Yes,” Sarah said.
“He did.”
Vincent looked at the little girl.
The jar was gone.
It had been left at the motel during the chase.
For some reason, that troubled him more than the blood on his sleeve.
“Emily.”
She lifted her eyes.
“Your dad needs you now.”
“Are you going to jail?”
“I have questions to answer.”
“Tell the truth.”
He nodded.
“I will.”
At the hospital, Sarah sat beside Daniel’s bed while Emily slept across two chairs.
For a long time, neither adult spoke.
Daniel looked at their daughter.
“I didn’t know.”
“Carlo told you I died.”
He nodded.
“He showed me papers.”
Sarah rubbed her face.
“I filed reports. I went to the station so many times they stopped pretending they were glad to see me.”
“Voss?”
“More than once.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I thought you were gone.”
She took his hand.
“We’re here.”
His fingers tightened.
“How much did I miss?”
Sarah looked toward Emily.
“Everything.”
Daniel turned his face away.
She let him cry.
She was too tired to make the truth prettier.
The next morning, Brooks came with Nora.
Carlo had been charged in connection with the captivity, the kidnapping, and the attacks.
Voss’s communications were under review.
Daniel’s files gave investigators dates, account numbers, and names.
Nora had obtained an order blocking the property transfer while the ownership dispute was examined.
“The building can’t be sold out from under you this week,” she said.
Sarah leaned back.
For the first time in days, her shoulders dropped.
Then Nora set another document on the bedside table.
Eleanor Bell’s trust.
Daniel had been named successor trustee.
Sarah and any children they had were beneficiaries.
Eleanor had intended the apartments to remain affordable.
The trust also held a small house outside town.
Carlo had concealed it.
Sarah stared at the address.
Daniel gave a tired smile.
“Eleanor called it the starter house.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“She signed the amendment the week I was taken. I never got home with the papers.”
Emily woke.
“Mom?”
Sarah crossed to her.
“Good news, sweetheart.”
Emily sat up.
Her face changed before Sarah could continue.
“What’s wrong?”
“My jar.”
May you like
Tears filled her eyes.
“Did we lose everything?”
