Chapter 5
I watched Emily's video six times.
Each time, I noticed something new.
The fear in her eyes.
The way she kept glancing toward the door.
The faint bruise near her wrist.
The desperate effort to remain calm.
My daughter had been terrified.
And I hadn't been there.
Samuel finally closed the laptop.
"Richard, we need to let the investigators examine everything."
I nodded.
But I couldn't stop thinking about the final words.
Someone you trust has been helping them.
Who?
Martin Cole?
A member of my board?
Someone in my own family?
I had spent decades surrounding myself with advisers, executives, and wealthy acquaintances.
Now I wondered how many of them had been loyal only to my money.
We provided the evidence to Detective Laura Bennett, who had taken charge of the case.
She was a sharp woman in her early forties.
She listened carefully as we explained the vault.
Then she examined the documents.
"These materials could be important," she said.
I leaned forward.
"Can you find my daughter?"
"We'll pursue every credible lead."
I felt impatient.
I wanted certainty.
But she wouldn't promise what she couldn't guarantee.
Instead, she asked about Daniel.
When had I last seen him?
Where was he living?
Had he contacted me recently?
I answered everything.
The last time I'd spoken to Daniel was six months earlier.
He called to ask whether I'd consider selling part of Harrison Holdings.
I refused.
He became angry.
Then he ended the call.
At the time, I thought it was another business disagreement.
Now I wondered whether he had been desperate for money.
Detective Bennett took notes.
Then she looked up.
"Do you know where Daniel is now?"
I shook my head.
"He travels constantly."
"Does he have access to private aircraft?"
"Yes."
She nodded.
"We'll look into his movements."
After the meeting, I returned to the hotel.
The boys were sitting on the carpet building a tower from wooden blocks.
Ethan was helping them.
Jack looked up when I entered.
"Grandpa!"
My heart nearly stopped.
He ran toward me.
I knelt.
He threw his arms around my neck.
For the first time in seven years, I felt like a grandfather again.
Ben followed.
He wrapped his arms around my waist.
"Did you find Mommy?"
The question broke me.
I held him gently.
"Not yet, sweetheart."
His face fell.
"But we're looking."
He nodded.
"Okay."
Jack watched me carefully.
"Did you open the box?"
I took a breath.
"Yes."
"What was inside?"
I hesitated.
How much could I tell an eleven-year-old?
I didn't want to lie.
But I didn't want to burden him with details he wasn't ready to hear.
"Your mommy left information to help us understand what happened."
Jack's eyes widened.
"She did?"
"Yes."
He grabbed my hand.
"Then we'll find her."
I nodded.
"We're going to try."
Ben climbed into my lap.
He rested his head against my chest.
For several minutes, neither boy spoke.
Then Jack whispered, "Grandpa, can I tell you something?"
I looked at him.
"Anything."
He glanced at Ben.
Then lowered his voice.
"Mommy told me not to trust Daddy."
My chest tightened.
I remained calm.
"Did she explain why?"
Jack shook his head.
"She said he'd become dangerous."
I swallowed.
"Did you see him recently?"
Jack's expression changed.
He looked toward the door.
Then whispered, "He came to the house."
My pulse quickened.
"What house?"
"The farmhouse."
I froze.
The circled address.
I forced myself to breathe slowly.
"Jack, can you tell me what happened?"
He stared at the carpet.
"We were hiding there."
"With Mommy?"
He nodded.
"She said we had to stay quiet."
I felt cold.
"Then what?"
"One night, cars came."
His voice trembled.
"Mommy pushed us through a little door behind the pantry."
My heart hammered.
"Where did it lead?"
"Outside."
Jack swallowed.
"She told us to run."
Ben began crying softly.
Jack put his arm around him.
"She said she'd come after us."
I felt tears fill my eyes.
"Did she?"
Jack shook his head.
"No."
He looked down.
"We waited near the trees."
My chest hurt.
"How long?"
"I don't know."
His voice cracked.
"It was dark."
I wanted to hold him.
But I let him continue at his own pace.
"Then we heard shouting."
I swallowed.
"Whose voice?"
"Mommy's."
My hands trembled.
Jack began crying.
"I wanted to go back."
He looked at Ben.
"But Mommy told me to keep him safe."
I pulled both boys into my arms.
"You did exactly what she asked."
Jack sobbed against my shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
I held him tighter.
"For what?"
"For leaving her."
My heart shattered.
"No, Jack."
I lifted his chin.
"Listen to me."
He looked at me through tears.
"Your mother wanted you to survive."
I brushed the hair from his forehead.
"You protected your brother. You did nothing wrong."
He began crying harder.
I held him until his breathing slowed.
Later that afternoon, Detective Bennett called.
Investigators had located the farmhouse.
The property appeared abandoned.
But there were signs someone had recently occupied it.
I gripped the phone.
"Did you find Emily?"
"No."
My heart sank.
"But we found something relevant."
I straightened.
"What?"
"A hidden compartment behind the pantry."
I closed my eyes.
Jack had told the truth.
The detective continued.
"It leads to a narrow passage opening behind the house."
My chest tightened.
"Exactly what Jack described."
"Yes."
I held my breath.
Then she said, "Richard, there's another discovery."
"What?"
"Investigators found fresh blood evidence inside the farmhouse."
My knees weakened.
"Emily's?"
"We don't know yet."
I gripped the table.
"Please."
The detective's voice softened.
"We'll have the results as soon as possible."
I stared at the sleeping boys across the room.
Then she continued.
"And we found a broken bracelet."
My heart pounded.
"What kind?"
"A silver bracelet with a small heart charm."
I covered my mouth.
I knew that bracelet.
I'd given it to Emily on her sixteenth birthday.
She wore it almost every day.
I swallowed.
"Was there anything engraved on it?"
The detective paused.
"Yes."
My voice broke.
"What did it say?"
May you like
She read the inscription.
"Forever my girl. Love, Dad."
