Chapter 3 - The Secret Inside The Backpack
The airport became a crime scene.
Security officers blocked every hallway.
Passengers were questioned.
Cameras were reviewed.
And Richard Harrison refused to leave his son’s side.
But he kept looking at Lily.
The poor little girl sitting quietly on the airport floor.
The girl who knew more about Ethan’s medical equipment than trained professionals.
A woman from child services approached.
“Sir, we need to know who this child belongs to.”
Richard looked around.
Nobody claimed her.
Lily sat alone.
Her backpack resting beside her.
The same backpack held together with tape and safety pins.
The woman opened her notebook.
“Lily, where is your mother?”
Lily looked down.
“She’s working.”
“And your father?”
Silence.
Richard noticed.
The girl avoided the question.
“Lily.”
She looked at him.
“Where is your father?”
Her voice became quiet.
“He disappeared.”
Richard felt something uncomfortable in his chest.
Because Ethan was alive because of a child who had already lost everything.
Then one security officer approached.
“Mr. Harrison.”
“We checked the cameras.”
Richard turned.
“What did you find?”
The officer hesitated.
“There is something strange.”
“What?”
“The person who changed Ethan’s settings knew exactly where the camera blind spot was.”
Richard’s eyes narrowed.
“So it was planned.”
“Yes.”
Lily suddenly stood up.
“No.”
Everyone looked at her.
Richard frowned.
“What do you mean?”
She pointed toward Ethan’s wheelchair.
“They weren’t trying to hurt him here.”
“They were testing something.”
The room went silent.
Colin stepped forward.
“You’re making wild accusations.”
Lily looked at him.
“No.”
“I’m remembering.”
Richard noticed the fear in her eyes.
Not confusion.
Not imagination.
Fear.
“What do you remember?”
Lily slowly opened her backpack.
Inside were old medical papers.
Photographs.
And a small broken device.
Richard picked up the photograph.
His blood turned cold.
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Because the person standing beside Lily’s brother…
Was someone Richard knew.
