Chapter 5 - THE THREAT IN THE PARKING GARAGE
Vanessa did not answer her phone.
She did not return to my parents’ house.
Her car was gone.
So was Lily.
That was the first thing that cut through my anger.
Lily was seven.
She was Vanessa’s daughter.
And whatever Vanessa had become, Lily was still a child trapped beside her.
Aaron issued an alert for the vehicle.
My mother claimed she had no idea where Vanessa had gone.
Then she hired a lawyer before anyone accused her of a crime.
His name was Malcolm Reed.
He arrived at the hospital in a navy suit and expensive shoes.
He smiled at me as if we were old friends.
“Rachel, this situation has become unnecessarily emotional.”
“My daughter was attacked.”
“That has not been established.”
I looked at his leather briefcase.
“You came quickly.”
“Your mother called me.”
“Before or after Vanessa disappeared with stolen evidence?”
His smile thinned.
“I would be careful with accusations.”
Daniel stepped beside me.
“You would be careful standing this close to my wife.”
Malcolm lifted both hands.
“No threats. We are all family.”
“No,” I said. “We are not.”
He glanced toward Emma’s room.
“Patricia is prepared to pay all medical expenses.”
“Why?”
“Goodwill.”
“Or silence?”
His eyes hardened.
“There is another issue.”
He pulled out a folder.
Inside was a petition for emergency guardianship of Emma.
I read the first page.
My mother had claimed Daniel and I were unstable, financially reckless, and unable to protect our daughter.
She cited today’s incident as proof.
I looked up.
“She attacked Emma and now she wants custody?”
Malcolm’s voice stayed smooth.
“She says the child was injured while under your supervision.”
Daniel laughed once.
It had no humor in it.
“You people are sick.”
Malcolm closed the folder.
“The hearing is tomorrow morning.”
My knees almost buckled.
“That’s impossible.”
“Emergency petitions move quickly.”
Aaron entered from the hall.
“Not when the petitioner is under investigation for evidence tampering.”
Malcolm turned.
“My client is not under investigation.”
“She is now.”
For the first time, the lawyer’s face shifted.
Aaron looked at me.
“We found Vanessa’s car.”
“Where?”
“An abandoned lot near Brighton.”
“Lily?”
“Not there.”
My heart dropped.
“And Vanessa?”
“No.”
The server was missing too.
By ten that night, Emma was cleared to go home.
Aaron arranged for a patrol car to follow us.
Daniel carried Emma through the parking garage while I walked beside them holding her discharge papers.
Halfway to the car, the lights went out.
Emma screamed.
Daniel turned, shielding her with his body.
A car engine started nearby.
Headlights snapped on.
A black SUV rolled slowly from behind a concrete pillar.
The driver’s window lowered.
Vanessa sat behind the wheel.
Her face was pale.
Her eyes looked wild.
Lily was not with her.
“Where is Lily?” I shouted.
Vanessa leaned toward the window.
“You should have taken Mom’s offer.”
“Where is your daughter?”
“She’s safe.”
“From who?”
Vanessa’s mouth twisted.
“From you.”
She raised her phone.
On the screen was a live video of Lily sitting in a dark room.
Her hands were tied in front of her.
My breath stopped.
Daniel moved toward the SUV.
Vanessa pointed something from inside the vehicle.
Not a gun.
A flare gun.
Bright orange.
Still deadly at close range.
“Back up.”
Daniel stopped.
Emma whimpered against his chest.
Vanessa looked at me.
“Withdraw the police complaint.”
“No.”
“Give up the trust.”
“No.”
“Then Lily stays where she is.”
“You tied up your own child?”
Vanessa’s face crumpled for half a second.
Then the coldness returned.
“You have until nine tomorrow morning.”
She accelerated.
The SUV disappeared up the ramp.
Aaron’s unmarked car shot past us seconds later.
I looked down at the discharge papers in my hand.
A folded note had been tucked between the pages.
I had not put it there.
May you like
On the front, written in a child’s shaky handwriting, were three words.
AUNT RACHEL, HELP.
