Chapter 4: The Woman on Every Screen
For three seconds, Renee Carter couldn't move.
Aaliyah's mother stared out from the terminal's information screens, her wrists bound, her cheeks wet with tears. Behind her stood a man whose face remained outside the camera's frame.
Then the woman whispered, "Renee, you promised me.""
The screens flickered.
The video continued.
"You promised Marcus you would protect our daughter," she said.
"You promised you wouldn't let them take her.""
Renee's hand tightened around her radio.
"I don't remember making that promise," she whispered.
Sergeant Curtis Webb heard her.
He stepped closer, blocking her view of the screen with the folder in his hand.
"That's enough," he said.
"Give me the child.""
Renee didn't move.
"Who authorized this broadcast?""
Webb tapped the folder against his palm.
"You're in no position to question me.""
"Then why are you avoiding my questions?""
His jaw flexed.
Behind Renee, Damon moved toward Aaliyah, but the little girl recoiled so violently that he stopped.
"Don't come near me," she cried.
Damon raised both hands.
"Aaliyah, sweetheart, I'm not going to touch you.""
"Everybody keeps saying that!""
Her voice cracked across the terminal.
Several travelers had stopped walking. A Black woman in a tan coat pulled her young son closer. An older man lowered his suitcase and began recording the confrontation with his phone.
Webb noticed.
"Put that phone away," he ordered.
The man stared at him.
"Why? What's happening?""
"Police business.""
"Then you shouldn't mind people seeing it.""
A few travelers exchanged uneasy looks.
Webb stepped toward the man, but Renee moved into his path.
"Sergeant, return to your position.""
He looked at her as if she had slapped him.
"You just disobeyed a direct order.""
"I requested a verified transfer authorization. You haven't provided one.""
"I showed you the document.""
"With a future timestamp.""
Webb leaned closer.
"You're making a mistake you cannot undo.""
Renee held his gaze.
"Then you should have no trouble explaining why.""
A sharp electronic tone sounded overhead.
The screen behind Webb changed.
A new message appeared beneath Aaliyah's mother's frozen image.
*LIVE TRANSMISSION TERMINATED. SUBJECT LOCATION UNKNOWN.*
Then the screens returned to departure information.
The ordinary blue-and-white schedules looked absurdly peaceful after what everyone had witnessed.
Renee turned toward the two officers who had arrived with Webb.
"Officer, secure the exits to this immediate area without blocking public passage. Keep travelers moving calmly. Nobody approaches the child without my authorization.""
The female officer nodded.
Her partner looked at Webb, then at Renee.
"Sergeant, is there a problem?""
Webb forced a smile.
"No problem. Officer Carter is having a difficult morning.""
"Then you can explain your authorization to Detective Harris," Renee replied.
She raised her radio.
"Dispatch, I need Detective Harris on this channel immediately. We have a possible hostage situation involving Aaliyah Bell's mother and a suspicious transfer order presented by Sergeant Webb.""
Webb's smile vanished.
"Don't use that word.""
"Which word?""
"Suspicious.""
"Then make it look less suspicious.""
He reached for her radio.
Renee caught his wrist before his fingers touched it.
The movement was quick, controlled, and unmistakable.
"Do not touch my equipment," she said.
Webb looked down at her hand.
For a moment, she thought he might strike her.
Instead, he leaned toward her ear.
"You have no idea what Marcus found.""
"Then tell me.""
"He found names. Addresses. Information that should never have left a secure system.""
"Who was selling it?""
Webb's eyes flickered toward Aaliyah.
"Your friend Marcus thought he could expose everyone involved. He didn't understand what would happen to his family.""
Renee felt something cold settle in her stomach.
"Did you kill him?""
Webb stepped away.
"You really should stop asking questions you don't want answered.""
Damon suddenly spoke.
"He's lying.""
Webb turned sharply.
"You should keep your mouth shut.""
"No," Damon said, his voice shaking but growing louder.
"I've kept my mouth shut for a year. Marcus is dead. His wife is missing. His daughter is terrified of everyone, and you're still standing here threatening people.""
Webb reached inside his jacket.
The female officer immediately moved closer.
"Sergeant, keep your hands visible.""
Webb froze.
Renee stared at his jacket.
"Slowly take your hand out.""
He withdrew a small identification wallet.
"I'm authorized to carry this.""
"Put it on the floor.""
His face darkened.
"You don't have the authority to—"
"Put it down.""
For a moment, neither moved.
Then Webb placed the wallet on a nearby chair.
Renee nodded to the female officer, who secured it without opening it.
The male officer moved between Webb and the crowd.
"Sergeant, I'm going to need you to remain here while we verify the order.""
Webb looked at both officers with open contempt.
"You'll regret this.""
"Possibly," the female officer answered.
"But right now, I'm more concerned about the child.""
Aaliyah had moved behind Renee again.
She was trembling so badly that Renee could feel it through the fabric of her uniform.
Renee crouched beside her.
"Sweetheart, I need you to tell me something. When your mother appeared on that screen, did you recognize the room?""
Aaliyah nodded.
"Where was she?""
"In our house.""
"Are you sure?""
"The yellow curtains are in the kitchen. And that clock is Daddy's clock.""
Renee glanced at the blank information screen.
"Was there anyone else in the room?""
Aaliyah swallowed.
"Someone was standing behind her.""
"Did you see his face?""
"No.""
"Did you hear anything?""
The girl looked down at her shoes.
"He said my name.""
Renee waited.
Aaliyah's voice became almost inaudible.
"He said, 'Tell Carter the second file is missing.''"
Damon's face changed.
Renee noticed immediately.
"What second file?""
Damon shook his head.
"I don't know.""
"Look at me.""
He did.
"You recognized those words.""
"I recognized the phrase.""
"Explain.""
Damon dragged a hand over his face.
"Marcus told me there were two copies of his evidence. One was supposed to expose the people selling information. The other was supposed to prove who had been covering it up.""
"Where are those files?""
"He never told me.""
"Why would he tell your sister to contact me?""
"I don't know.""
Renee studied him.
Damon looked frightened, but not of Webb.
He was looking at Aaliyah as though every new revelation brought him closer to something he had been trying desperately to avoid.
Then the female officer called out.
"Officer Carter, we have an issue.""
Renee stood.
"What is it?""
The officer held up Webb's identification wallet.
"There are two badges inside.""
Renee frowned.
"Two?""
"One belongs to Sergeant Webb. The other has your name on it.""
Renee felt the floor tilt beneath her.
The female officer turned the second badge toward her.
It looked genuine.
Her name. Her identification number. Her photograph.
But Renee still had her own badge attached to her uniform.
Webb watched her from beside the chairs.
For the first time that morning, he smiled without trying to hide it.
"You see, Carter?"" he said softly.
"Someone has been preparing for you to become the villain in this story.""
Renee looked at the duplicate badge.
Then she looked at Aaliyah.
The girl had gone completely still.
"Officer," Aaliyah whispered, "that's the badge the man at our house showed Mommy.""
Renee slowly turned toward Webb.
"Who gave you that badge?""
Webb said nothing.
Instead, he looked at the station's main entrance.
A Black woman in a gray coat had just walked inside, carrying a small black handbag.
She scanned the crowd, spotted Aaliyah, and began moving toward them.
Damon recognized her first.
He stumbled backward.
"No," he whispered.
"That can't be her.""
Renee drew herself upright.
"Who is that?""
Damon's eyes remained fixed on the approaching woman.
"Marcus's wife.""
Aaliyah stared at the woman.
Then, with a tiny, broken sound, she whispered, "Mommy?""
The woman stopped several feet away.
She looked at her daughter.
Then at Renee.
And finally at Sergeant Webb.
"Don't let him tell you what happened that night," she said.
Webb's expression turned murderous.
The woman opened her handbag.
May you like
Inside lay a small silver recorder.
"And don't believe Renee when she says she doesn't remember.""
