Chapter 14: The Last Lie
I ran up the stairs so quickly I nearly fell.
"Call Grace!"" I shouted.
Robert already had his phone out.
The call went to voicemail.
I tried again.
Nothing.
Then my phone rang.
Grace.
I answered immediately.
"Where's Lily?""
Her voice was trembling.
"Marcus, I don't know!""
"What do you mean?""
"She was watching television. I went into the kitchen for five minutes, and when I came back, she was gone.""
I felt the world collapse around me.
"Did you see Vanessa?""
"No. But the back door was open.""
I closed my eyes.
"Call the police. Tell them she's been taken.""
"Marcus, I'm sorry.""
"Grace, listen to me. This isn't your fault. Just stay there.""
I ended the call.
Detective Harris returned from outside.
"What happened?""
"My daughter is missing.""
He immediately called for additional units.
Daniel stood near the underground entrance, his face drained of color.
"Where would Vanessa take her?"" I demanded.
"I don't know.""
"You helped arrange all this!""
"I know!""
"Then start being useful!""
Daniel rubbed his face.
"There's a warehouse near the old company offices. Richard used it to store documents.""
"Where?""
"On the east side of town.""
"Why would Vanessa take Lily there?""
Daniel looked at the floor.
"Because Richard has the original company seal there.""
Robert frowned.
"What does that have to do with Lily?""
Daniel looked at him.
"The company shares are held in trust. But Richard believes he can challenge the transfer if he obtains a declaration from the beneficiary's guardian.""
I stared at him.
"That's impossible. Lily is twelve.""
"He's claiming the trust was established using fraudulent information.""
Robert shook his head.
"That doesn't give him authority to take her.""
"I know.""
I stepped toward Daniel.
"What does Vanessa want?""
He hesitated.
Then he said:
"She wants Lily to sign a statement saying Grandpa promised the shares to Daniel.""
I felt sick.
"She's a child.""
"Richard doesn't care.""
Detective Harris interrupted.
"Give me the warehouse address.""
Daniel did.
The detective immediately dispatched two officers.
I wanted to go with them.
He refused.
"Mr. Reed, I need you to stay here.""
"My daughter is in danger!""
"And I need you to trust us to bring her back safely.""
I stood motionless.
Then Daniel approached.
"Marcus, let me help.""
I turned toward him.
"You've helped enough.""
He lowered his head.
"I know.""
He took something from his jacket.
A small key.
"There's a second entrance to the warehouse. Richard doesn't use the main gate because it's monitored.""
He handed it to the detective.
"Take this.""
The detective examined it.
"Why are you giving us this?""
Daniel looked at me.
"Because I owe my brother something.""
I stared at him.
"You owe Dad something.""
He nodded.
"I know.""
For the next twenty minutes, I waited.
Every second felt unbearable.
Then my phone rang.
An unknown number.
I answered.
"Marcus.""
Vanessa.
I nearly dropped the phone.
"Where is Lily?""
"She's fine.""
"Put her on the phone.""
"Not yet.""
"Vanessa, if you've hurt her—"
"I haven't touched her.""
"Then let her go.""
Vanessa laughed softly.
"You still don't understand, do you?""
"Understand what?""
"Your father ruined everything.""
"My father tried to stop Richard from stealing.""
"Your father left us with nothing!""
I stared at the phone.
"You're married to me. We had a home. We had a family.""
"You had a home. I had a plan.""
The words hit harder than any confession.
"Was any of it real?""
Vanessa didn't answer.
"Did you ever love me?""
She sighed.
"Marcus, don't make this emotional.""
I closed my eyes.
"Eleven years. Did you ever love me?""
For a moment, there was silence.
Then she said:
"I liked you.""
I felt something inside me break.
"Liked me?""
"You were kind. You were predictable. You had access to the family.""
I looked at Daniel.
He was listening.
Vanessa continued.
"Richard promised me a percentage of the company. Daniel promised me security. I thought I could get what I wanted and still have a normal life.""
"And Lily?""
Her voice softened.
"I never wanted anything to happen to Lily.""
"Then why take her?""
"Because Richard is desperate.""
"Where are you?""
She laughed.
"Do you remember the house where we first met?""
My stomach tightened.
The charity dinner.
The old estate.
"Yes.""
"Come there.""
"Bring Lily.""
"Come alone.""
"No.""
"Then you won't see her.""
The call ended.
I looked at Detective Harris.
He had heard everything.
"We know the location," he said.
"We need to move.""
He nodded.
"We're already sending officers.""
I turned toward Daniel.
"You're coming with us.""
He looked startled.
"Why?""
"Because Vanessa knows you. If she sees you, she might lower her guard.""
Daniel nodded.
We drove toward the old estate.
The building had been abandoned for years.
Its windows were dark, and weeds covered the entrance.
I remembered standing there with Emily eleven years earlier.
That was the night Vanessa had first introduced herself to me.
Now I understood why.
She hadn't appeared by accident.
She had been waiting.
Detective Harris positioned officers around the property.
I remained inside the vehicle.
Then a light came on upstairs.
A shadow crossed the window.
My phone vibrated.
A photograph appeared.
Lily was sitting on a wooden chair.
Her hands were free.
She was crying.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
*COME INSIDE. NO POLICE.*
I looked at Detective Harris.
He shook his head.
"Do not go in.""
Another message arrived.
*I HAVE THE ORIGINAL RECORDING.*
I stared at the screen.
Then a third message.
*ONE LAST CHOICE, MARCUS. YOUR DAUGHTER OR THE EVIDENCE.*
Daniel leaned forward.
"She's bluffing.""
I turned.
"How do you know?""
He swallowed.
"Because Richard has already made that choice.""
"What?""
Daniel looked at the building.
"He's going to destroy the recording tonight. Vanessa is just buying time.""
I looked toward the upstairs window.
A figure appeared.
Vanessa.
She held up a small cassette.
Then she pointed toward Lily.
I stepped out of the car.
Detective Harris grabbed my arm.
"Marcus!""
I looked at him.
"She's my daughter.""
He held my gaze.
"We're getting her back. But we do this carefully.""
Then Daniel stepped forward.
"Let me go inside.""
Everyone turned toward him.
"What?"" I asked.
Daniel looked at the building.
"Richard will talk to me. He still thinks I'm on his side.""
Detective Harris shook his head.
"Absolutely not.""
Daniel looked at me.
"I can get Lily out.""
I wanted to hate him.
I wanted to tell him that he had no right to risk anything for our family after everything he'd done.
But then I remembered my father's letter.
People who love you will never ask you to surrender what belongs to you.
Daniel had spent eight years choosing the wrong side.
Maybe, for once, he was ready to choose differently.
I looked at the detective.
"Let him wear a wire.""
The detective hesitated.
Then he nodded.
Daniel put on the recording device.
He walked toward the building.
We watched through the windows.
Inside, Vanessa appeared at the top of the stairs.
She looked surprised to see him.
"Where's Marcus?""
Daniel raised his hands.
"He's not coming.""
"Then why are you here?""
"Because I have what Richard wants.""
He placed a folder on the table.
Vanessa opened it.
Her expression changed.
"What's this?""
"The original ownership documents.""
I stared through the window.
Daniel looked toward the hidden camera.
Then he said:
"There's one more thing you should know, Vanessa.""
She looked up.
"What?""
Daniel's voice broke.
"I recorded the night Dad died.""
Vanessa went completely still.
Then a man's voice came from the darkness.
"Give me that folder.""
Richard stepped into the room.
He was holding a gun.
May you like
And he wasn't looking at Daniel.
He was looking directly at the camera.
