Chapter 13
Emily collapsed beside the bracelet.
“This is my fault.”
I knelt beside her.
“No. It’s his.”
Bear spoke with the federal agents while Jo searched traffic cameras.
Ruth held my hand.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered.
“You tried to tell me.”
“Your father threatened my family.”
She explained that Richard discovered the adoption years after marrying me.
Instead of telling me, he located Bear and watched him from a distance.
Then he used the secret to blackmail my father.
Richard’s wealth had been built on that betrayal.
Daniel learned everything while managing Richard’s accounts.
When Richard staged his death, Daniel seized control of the stolen money.
“They turned all of you into insurance against one another,” Ruth said.
An agent approached.
Daniel’s van had been found near the Tennessee River.
It was empty.
Sophie’s jacket lay on the passenger seat.
Emily pressed the bracelet to her lips.
Bear examined a photograph of the van.
“There’s red clay on the tires.”
He knew the area.
Only three roads nearby had that soil.
We split up with federal teams.
At the second location, we found an abandoned summer camp.
A light glowed inside one cabin.
Emily heard Sophie crying.
Daniel stood at the window.
He held a knife against the rope binding Sophie’s hands.
“Bring me the flash drive,” he demanded.
“We copied it,” I said.
He smiled.
“I know.”
He pointed toward a laptop.
On its screen was a live feed from the federal command vehicle.
Someone inside the investigation was helping him.
Then Sheriff Cole walked from behind the cabin.
May you like
He aimed his weapon at Bear.
“Give Daniel what he wants.”
