Chapter 7 - THE NIGHT SOMEONE CAME FOR MY DAUGHTERThe police moved us to a secure location.
Emma didn't understand why.
She thought we were going on vacation.
I didn't have the heart to tell her the truth.
Trevor wasn't allowed to stay with us.
He accepted it.
“I deserve it,” he said.
But before he left, he gave me something.
A small memory card.
“I found this in Mom's house.”
“What is it?”
“I don't know.”
The detective examined it.
There were dozens of files.
Audio recordings.
Evelyn's conversations with Dr. Bell.
The first recording began with Evelyn crying.
“I can't do this.”
Bell's voice was cold.
“You already agreed.”
“They're children.”
“You wanted Claire gone.”
“I wanted custody.”
“You'll get it.”
“And the twins?”
“They'll sleep.”
Evelyn began crying.
“You promised.”
“I promise nothing.”
The recording ended.
My hands trembled.
The next recording was worse.
Bell said:
“Once the babies are gone, Claire will fall apart.”
Evelyn whispered:
“And Trevor?”
“He'll blame himself.”
I closed my eyes.
The entire plan had been designed to destroy us psychologically.
Then came the final recording.
Bell's voice changed.
“You should have stayed out of my life, Claire.”
I looked at the detective.
“He knew he was being recorded.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because he wanted you to hear it.”
The detective immediately ordered a digital forensics team to examine the card.
Then the lights went out.
Every light.
The building went completely dark.
Emma screamed.
I grabbed her.
“Stay with me.”
A sound came from the hallway.
Footsteps.
The security officer shouted.
“Everyone stay inside!”
Then glass shattered.
A gunshot echoed.
I covered Emma with my body.
The police moved quickly.
Someone tried to enter the room.
Then a flashlight appeared.
“Police!”
The officers rushed inside.
The intruder had escaped through a back exit.
But he left something behind.
A doctor's coat.
The badge said:
Marcus Bell.
The detective looked at me.
“He was here.”
I held Emma tighter.
“How did he know?”
The detective looked toward the memory card.
“Someone gave him your location.”
My heart sank.
“Who?”
He didn't answer.
Then Trevor called.
He sounded terrified.
“Claire.”
“What?”
“I didn't tell anyone.”
“Tell me what?”
“My mother is missing.”
I froze.
“What?”
“She escaped custody.”
The detective grabbed the phone.
“When?”
“Ten minutes ago.”
“Did she contact you?”
“No.”
Then another voice came through.
Evelyn.
“Claire.”
I took the phone.
“Where are you?”
“You need to listen.”
“Where are you?”
“With Emma.”
My blood froze.
“What?”
Evelyn's voice broke.
“I found Bell.”
“Where?”
“I'll tell you.”
“Where is my daughter?”
“She is safe.”
I looked at Emma.
She was right beside me.
I whispered:
“You're lying.”
Evelyn began crying.
“No.”
Then she said:
“He is coming for her.”
The line went dead.
I stared at the phone.
The detective immediately searched the building.
Emma was still beside me.
Safe.
But then we realized something.
Evelyn hadn't been talking about Emma being physically with her.
She meant Bell was coming for her.
The detective turned toward the officers.
“Lock down the entire building.”
Then my phone received another message.
A photograph.
Emma's classroom at school.
Taken that morning.
The message underneath said:
You can't protect her forever.
I felt my blood run cold.
But then I noticed something in the corner of the photograph.
A reflection.
A man's face.
Dr. Bell.
The detective looked at it.
“Where was this taken?”
“At Emma's school.”
“When?”
“Today.”
He stared at me.
“Then we need to find out who let him inside.”
Suddenly Trevor called again.
His voice was shaking.
“Claire, I know where Bell is.”
“Where?”
“He's going to the place where it all started.”
“Where?”
May you like
Trevor swallowed.
“My mother's house.”
