Chapter 7 - tyler starts watching)
Tyler ran outside.
The passenger door of his car stood open.
Jack was gone.
"JACK!"
Rick remained beside his truck.
Smiling.
Tyler charged toward him.
"Where is he?"
Rick raised both hands.
"Calm down."
"Where's Jack?"
"He called your mother."
"What?"
"Laura picked him up ten minutes ago."
Tyler stopped.
Rick enjoyed the confusion.
"Your brother got scared sitting alone. That's what children do."
Tyler called Laura.
She answered immediately.
"Tyler?"
"Is Jack with you?"
"Yes. Why?"
Tyler closed his eyes.
Relief and anger hit together.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"He said you were inside talking to someone. Rick called and said you two had driven out here because Jack wanted to look for Maya."
Tyler stared at Rick.
Another lie.
"Mom, take Jack somewhere."
"What?"
"Not home."
"Tyler, what is happening?"
Rick took a step closer.
Tyler moved away.
"Go to Aunt Claire's. I'll explain."
"You're scaring me."
"Please."
Laura heard something in his voice.
"Okay."
Rick's smile disappeared.
Tyler ended the call.
The state officer came outside.
"Mr. Mallory?"
Rick turned polite instantly.
"Yes, Officer?"
"We need to ask you some questions."
"Of course."
For the next hour, Rick acted like a concerned stepfather.
He claimed Maya often played near his workshop.
He explained the rolled object in the video as industrial landscaping fabric.
He said Tyler had become obsessed with conspiracy theories because he was emotional about Maya's disappearance.
When officers asked to search the garage, Rick smiled.
"Get a warrant."
That smile frightened Tyler.
An innocent man with a missing child possibly trapped in his garage would open the door.
Rick knew police lacked enough.
The officer told Tyler they would seek additional authority.
But legal procedures did not move as quickly as terrified teenagers wanted.
By evening, Rick returned home.
Laura and Jack stayed at Aunt Claire's.
Tyler stayed with them.
At midnight he received a message from an unknown number.
YOU MADE A MISTAKE.
He showed it to the state officer assigned to follow up.
They documented it.
Nothing more.
Friday morning, the search for Maya expanded.
Police searched an abandoned quarry.
A news helicopter flew over the neighborhood.
Rick spoke briefly to a reporter and said the family prayed for Maya's safe return.
Tyler watched the interview online.
Rick looked sincere.
That was when Tyler realized how dangerous he truly was.
Angry people make mistakes.
Terrified people reveal themselves.
Rick could become anything the situation required.
Tyler needed proof he could not explain away.
Friday afternoon, he went to see Catherine.
Maya's mother opened the door looking ten years older than she had a week earlier.
"Tyler?"
"I need to ask you something."
She let him inside.
He showed her Maya's video.
Catherine covered her mouth.
"Where did you get this?"
"Her backpack."
"Where?"
"Jack had it."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Why?"
Tyler explained.
Not everything.
Enough.
When he told her he believed Maya might be inside Rick's garage, Catherine stood so fast her chair fell over.
"I'm going there."
Tyler blocked the door.
"No."
"My daughter is in there."
"We don't know that for certain."
"You said you heard her."
"I did."
"Then move."
"If Rick sees you coming, he might move her."
Catherine stared at him.
Her entire body shook.
Then she whispered, "What do we do?"
"We watch him."
That night, they did.
Catherine parked two blocks away.
Tyler hid behind the Collins fence with a clear view of the garage.
At 11:20, the backyard lights turned off.
At 11:47, Rick emerged from the house carrying a paper bag and bottled water.
He unlocked the garage side door.
Entered.
Stayed thirteen minutes.
When he came out, the bag was gone.
Tyler filmed everything.
At 12:15, another vehicle arrived.
Gary Mallory.
He parked behind the garage.
Rick met him outside.
Tyler crept closer.
The brothers spoke quietly.
He could hear pieces.
"...Saturday..."
"...too many people..."
"...exactly why..."
Then Gary said clearly, "The girl has seen your face."
Rick answered, "Then she shouldn't have been spying."
Catherine covered her mouth.
Tyler kept recording.
Gary lowered his voice.
"You said the boy was handled."
"He is."
"The older one isn't."
"I can handle Tyler."
"What about Laura?"
"She doesn't know anything."
Gary paused.
Then said, "And Bennett?"
Tyler stopped breathing.
Rick looked toward the house.
"That stays buried."
Gary answered, "It should have stayed buried eight years ago."
Tyler nearly dropped his phone.
Eight years.
Daniel Bennett died eight years ago.
Catherine touched Tyler's arm.
He did not move.
Gary opened the back of his vehicle.
Inside were plastic storage bins.
Rick looked at them.
"Tomorrow night. After the party."
Gary nodded.
"Girl first. Box second."
"What about the car?"
"Already handled."
Tyler's chest tightened.
The conversation lasted only two more minutes.
Then Gary drove away.
Rick returned inside.
Tyler remained crouched in darkness.
Catherine whispered, "You have everything now."
Tyler looked at his phone.
He had Rick.
He had Gary.
He had Maya.
He also had the first real suggestion that his father's death had never been an accident.
They sent the recording directly to the state police.
This time the response was immediate.
An investigator called.
He said officers were preparing action.
Tyler asked when.
"Tomorrow morning."
"Why not now?"
"We need to coordinate."
"She's in there now."
"We understand."
"No, you don't."
"Tyler, do not approach that garage."
"What if Rick moves her?"
"We'll have surveillance."
Tyler looked toward the house.
A light came on upstairs.
Rick stood at the window.
Watching the backyard.
Tyler stepped farther behind the fence.
The investigator repeated, "Do not confront him."
Tyler agreed.
Then his phone buzzed.
A message from Rick.
NICE NIGHT FOR SPYING.
Tyler looked up.
Rick was still standing at the window.
Then another message arrived.
TOMORROW WE'LL ALL HAVE A NICE FAMILY PARTY.
May you like
A third.
BRING JACK.
