Chapter 7 - The Empty Hospital RoomFor one terrifying second, I couldn't breathe.
“Where is my daughter?”
The nurse was crying.
“We don't know.”
Detective Collins grabbed the phone.
“Who last saw her?”
A nurse answered.
“Her assigned nurse.”
“Where is she?”
“Missing too.”
My legs nearly collapsed.
Detective Collins turned to me.
“Stay here.”
“No.”
“Daniel—”
“I'm coming.”
We ran through the hospital corridors.
Lily's room was empty.
The blanket was on the floor.
Her stuffed rabbit was beside the bed.
The window was open.
Detective Collins examined the frame.
“No forced entry.”
My heart pounded.
“She wouldn't leave willingly.”
“I know.”
Then I saw something.
A note taped beneath the bed.
I pulled it free.
Three words.
FIND THE PIANO.
I looked at Detective Collins.
“The piano.”
We rushed home.
The garage door was open.
The piano was gone.
Someone had taken it.
But there was something on the floor.
Lily's pink hair clip.
My blood turned cold.
“She was here.”
Detective Collins examined it.
“Recently.”
Then her phone rang.
She listened.
“Hospital cameras caught a man.”
“Who?”
“Victor Hale.”
The private investigator.
“He took Lily.”
We found his vehicle abandoned near the river.
Inside was Lily's backpack.
But she wasn't there.
Detective Collins searched the trunk.
Nothing.
Then she noticed a GPS device attached beneath the bumper.
“It isn't his.”
“What?”
“It belongs to Evelyn.”
We traced it.
The signal came from an old warehouse.
Police surrounded the building.
I wanted to rush inside.
Detective Collins stopped me.
“Wait.”
Then we heard a child's voice.
“Dad!”
Lily.
I nearly broke down.
Police entered.
Minutes later, an officer emerged carrying my daughter.
She ran into my arms.
I held her so tightly she cried.
“I knew you'd come.”
“I always will.”
Detective Collins found Victor inside.
He was injured.
Someone had attacked him.
“Where's Evelyn?” she asked.
Victor shook his head.
“She took the girl.”
“Who helped her?”
Victor looked at me.
“Michael.”
My heart sank.
“What?”
Victor laughed weakly.
“Your brother switched sides.”
Detective Collins frowned.
“Explain.”
“Michael told Evelyn the police were closing in.”
“So?”
“He helped her move Lily.”
I refused to believe it.
Then Detective Collins received another call.
Michael had disappeared.
His car was found near the airport.
Inside was his passport.
And a note.
I'm sorry, Daniel.
My heart shattered.
Had I trusted him again?
Lily clung to me.
“Dad?”
“I'm here.”
“Uncle Michael told Grandma something.”
“What?”
“He said he didn't want to hurt me.”
I looked at Detective Collins.
“What did he mean?”
Before she could answer, a message arrived on my phone.
FROM MICHAEL:
Don't trust the police.
Then another:
Evelyn isn't the person you should fear.
Then:
Look inside Anna's wedding ring.
I froze.
Anna's wedding ring was in my safe.
We went home.
I opened the safe.
The ring was exactly where I had left it.
Detective Collins examined it.
There was a tiny compartment beneath the setting.
Inside was a microchip.
We connected it to a laptop.
A video appeared.
Anna.
She was crying.
“Daniel, if you're watching this, Michael has probably told you something.”
I stared at the screen.
Anna continued.
“Please believe me.”
She looked over her shoulder.
“I didn't die because of the brakes.”
My heart stopped.
“I was poisoned.”
The video shook.
“I don't know who did it.”
Then Anna whispered:
“But I know who ordered it.”
The screen went black.
A second file opened automatically.
It showed Evelyn.
She was speaking to someone.
We couldn't see the man's face.
But I recognized his voice.
Dr. Nathan Reed.
Evelyn said:
“Make sure she doesn't reach the police.”
Dr. Reed answered:
“She won't.”
I covered my mouth.
Detective Collins stared at the screen.
Then a third file appeared.
This time, the man's face became visible.
Michael.
But he wasn't talking to Evelyn.
He was talking to Anna.
And he was crying.
“I'll protect Daniel and Lily.”
Anna replied:
“Then help me.”
Michael nodded.
The video ended.
Detective Collins looked at me.
“Michael wasn't working against us.”
“What was he doing?”
“Trying to get evidence.”
I looked at the messages.
“He told Evelyn he was helping her.”
“Exactly.”
“Then where is he?”
A fourth file opened.
Michael's voice.
“If I disappear, it means Evelyn knows.”
Then he gave one final instruction.
“Find Claire.”
The screen went black.
At that moment, Claire called.
“Daniel?”
“Yes.”
“I know where Michael is.”
“Where?”
“He's with the person who can prove who killed Anna.”
“Who?”
May you like
Claire whispered:
“Dr. Reed.”
