Chapter 7 - The Night the City Stood Still
Daniel arrived at Union Station at midnight.
He brought security.
Not visible.
Not close.
Enough.
Emma stayed in the safe vehicle nearby with Josh.
The station was nearly empty.
A train passed overhead.
Then Richard stepped out.
He held a gun.
And beside him stood Greg Reynolds.
Older.
Bruised.
Alive.
Daniel stared.
Greg looked at him.
"You're Daniel."
"Yes."
"I knew your father."
"Where is Voss?"
Richard smiled.
"On his way."
Daniel took a step.
"Release Greg."
Richard shook his head.
"You don't understand."
"I understand enough."
"You have the ledger."
"Yes."
"Give it to me."
"No."
Richard looked toward the parking lot.
"Then the girl dies."
Daniel's security team prepared.
Suddenly, lights went out.
Gunfire erupted.
Chaos.
People screamed.
Daniel moved toward Greg.
A guard tackled Richard.
Greg fell.
Daniel caught him.
"Where's Emma?"
Greg's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Emma."
"I thought she was with you."
Daniel's blood went cold.
He ran outside.
The vehicle was gone.
The driver lay unconscious.
Josh was safe.
Emma was missing.
Again.
Daniel felt something inside him break.
They searched the city.
Hours passed.
Then Daniel received a video.
Emma sat in a dark room.
She looked frightened.
But alive.
A man stood behind her.
Samuel Voss.
"You wanted the ledger."
"Yes."
"You have it."
"Bring it."
Daniel clenched his phone.
"You hurt her and I destroy everything."
Voss smiled.
"That's why I chose her."
Daniel prepared the evidence.
Then something unexpected happened.
Marcus called.
"We found the location."
"Where?"
"An old theater."
Daniel drove.
He entered alone.
Voss waited onstage.
Emma sat nearby.
Greg was there too.
Daniel placed the ledger down.
Voss reached for it.
A gunshot echoed.
He fell.
Police stormed the theater.
Richard was arrested.
The remaining conspirators were taken into custody.
Daniel ran to Emma.
She jumped into his arms.
"You're here."
"I'm here."
"I wasn't scared."
He looked at her.
"You're allowed to be scared."
"I was."
She buried her face against him.
"But I knew you'd come."
He closed his eyes.
"I always will."
Greg approached.
He looked at Emma.
She ran to him.
"Daddy!"
Greg collapsed to his knees.
He held her tightly.
For several minutes, father and daughter cried together.
Daniel stepped away.
He had never seen a reunion like that.
It was something Emma had been denied for months.
Something he had feared she would never have.
Then Greg looked at him.
"Sarah told me to find you."
Daniel swallowed.
"I wish I had found her."
Greg nodded.
"So do I."
Daniel looked toward Emma.
"She saved my son's life."
Greg smiled sadly.
"Then she did what her mother raised her to do."
Emma looked confused.
"What?"
"Your mother always said you had the biggest heart in the smallest body."
Emma began crying.
Daniel knelt beside her.
"Do you remember what she used to sing?"
Emma nodded.
"The stars."
"Then sing it."
She started humming.
Greg closed his eyes.
Daniel listened.
May you like
And for the first time, the melody sounded like something other than grief.
It sounded like home.
