Chapter 6 - The Night Their Daughter Disappeared
Cassia screamed.
“Ellie!”
Adrian was already running.
Her bedroom door stood open.
The window was broken.
The bed was empty.
A stuffed rabbit lay on the floor.
Pickles.
Cassia collapsed to her knees.
“No.”
Adrian grabbed the rabbit.
His hands shook.
“Find her.”
Every security team in Chicago was activated.
Traffic cameras.
Airport records.
Bridge tolls.
Hotel systems.
Everything.
Elias blamed himself.
“He used me.”
Adrian turned.
“How?”
“I gave Graham the wrong impression.”
“What?”
“I told him I had the second trust documents.”
Adrian stared.
“You lied to him.”
“Yes.”
“But he found Ellie.”
Elias nodded.
“Because he never believed me.”
Cassia cried.
“Bring her back.”
Adrian looked at her.
“I will.”
Hours later, a video arrived.
Ellie sat on a chair.
She looked frightened but unharmed.
A man's voice spoke behind the camera.
“Cassia, bring the second trust documents.”
She whispered:
“I don't have them.”
“You know who does.”
“Where is my daughter?”
The man stepped into view.
Graham Harlow.
Cassia's father.
Older.
Gray-haired.
Still sharp.
Still cold.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
Cassia's heart shattered.
“You're alive.”
“I've been alive for a long time.”
“Let her go.”
“She is my granddaughter.”
“You lost that right years ago.”
“I never had it.”
“What do you want?”
“The trust.”
“I don't have it.”
“You have the key.”
Cassia froze.
“What key?”
“The one your mother gave you.”
She reached for her necklace.
The pendant.
Her mother had given it to her before she died.
Inside was a tiny compartment.
A key.
Cassia had never opened it.
Graham smiled through the screen.
“You finally understand.”
Adrian stared at the video.
“Where?”
Graham answered:
“Come alone.”
The video ended.
Cassia stood.
“I'll go.”
“No.”
“He has Ellie.”
“He wants you.”
“Exactly.”
Elias shook his head.
“It's a trap.”
“I know.”
Adrian took her hands.
“We'll get her.”
“How?”
He looked toward Marco.
“You'll go through the north entrance.”
Then toward Elias.
“You take the west.”
Then Cassia.
“You stay outside until I call.”
She stared.
“No.”
“Cassia.”
“I am not staying behind while my daughter is inside.”
He looked at her.
She shook her head.
“I'm done being protected by being excluded.”
Adrian understood.
“Fine.”
They arrived at the warehouse before dawn.
It was empty.
Too empty.
Cassia stepped inside.
“Dad!”
Graham appeared on the balcony.
“Your mother used to have that same voice.”
“Where is Ellie?”
“Safe.”
“Let her go.”
“Give me the key.”
Cassia removed the necklace.
She held it up.
“You murdered my mother.”
Graham smiled.
“She knew too much.”
“You killed Daniel Vale.”
“Yes.”
“You separated Elias from us.”
“Yes.”
“You ruined thousands of lives.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because power belongs to whoever is willing to take it.”
Adrian stepped from the shadows.
Graham's smile vanished.
“You.”
“You wanted me here.”
“Not you.”
Adrian raised his weapon.
“Then stop talking.”
Graham laughed.
“You still think violence gives you control.”
“No.”
Adrian looked at Cassia.
“I think she does.”
A door opened.
Ellie ran into Cassia's arms.
Cassia grabbed her.
“My baby.”
Ellie cried.
“Mama.”
Graham escaped through a rear door.
Adrian chased him.
But the warehouse exploded.
Fire raced across the ceiling.
Adrian grabbed Cassia and Ellie.
Elias found the side exit.
They escaped.
Outside, flames consumed the building.
Ellie clung to Cassia.
“Mommy?”
“I'm here.”
“Why was that bad man calling you sweetheart?”
Cassia closed her eyes.
“Because he doesn't know how to be good.”
Ellie nodded.
Adrian watched them.
For five years he had feared losing Cassia.
Now he understood the fear was larger.
He could not lose both.
Later that day, police found Graham's vehicle abandoned.
No body.
No blood.
No sign.
He had disappeared again.
But they recovered a briefcase.
Inside was a single document.
The second trust.
Cassia opened it.
The final beneficiary list contained one name she had never expected.
Elias Bennett.
Then another.
Ellie Bennett Vale.
Adrian stared.
“Vale.”
Cassia looked at him.
The name had never been used legally.
Until now.
May you like
Someone had already prepared the documents for their daughter.
And the trust had been waiting for both parents to reunite.
