Chapter 16 - THE WOMAN WHO CAME BACK
Every light on the street went dark.
For three seconds, Daniel could see nothing.
Then the emergency lights inside the safe house flickered on.
Noah was still standing at the window.
“Mommy.”
Daniel grabbed him and pulled him away from the glass.
“Stay behind me.”
Anna locked the curtains.
Claire's voice came through the security earpiece.
“Daniel, don't move.”
“Jonathan Vale is outside.”
Silence.
Then Claire answered:
“That is impossible.”
“I know.”
“No. Daniel, listen to me. The man identified as Jonathan Vale is still inside federal custody.”
Daniel looked toward the window.
The street was empty.
The sedan had vanished.
So had the woman.
Only a small object remained on the pavement.
A wooden music box.
The same one sitting on the table.
Daniel stared.
“How did they get that outside?”
Claire answered immediately.
“They didn't.”
Daniel turned.
The music box inside the room was gone.
Someone had taken it.
Without opening the locked door.
Without triggering an alarm.
Daniel's face hardened.
“Seal the building.”
Agents rushed into the hallway.
Anna held Noah tightly.
Then Noah pointed toward the floor.
“Daddy.”
Something was written there.
Three words.
HE IS ALREADY HERE.
Daniel stared at the message.
Then the lights went out again.
This time, nobody moved.
A man's voice came from the darkness.
“You should have listened to Melissa.”
Daniel turned toward the sound.
May you like
And recognized the voice.
It belonged to Jonathan Vale.
