Chapter 9 - barbecue day)
The barbecue had become a stage.
Rick knew police were present.
Police knew Rick knew.
And somewhere nearby, Gary Mallory was controlling the final piece.
Maya.
Tyler lowered his voice.
"Gary's here."
Detective Ruiz glanced toward him.
"How do you know?"
"The key."
"What key?"
"Rick has the padlock key, but he never locked the door. Someone else did."
Ruiz touched the hidden radio beneath her sleeve.
Two officers moved toward the alley behind the garage.
Rick noticed.
He grabbed Jack again.
Tyler shoved him away.
That was when the bracelet appeared.
Blue beads.
Silver moon.
Purple string.
Sliding from beneath the garage door.
Jack whispered, "That belongs to..."
Rick cursed.
Then the voice.
"Jack...?"
Laura stopped breathing.
Tyler saw Detective Ruiz give a signal.
Three officers moved.
Rick backed toward the pool.
"Nobody touches that lock."
Ruiz dropped the disguise.
"Rick Mallory, step away from the garage."
Several guests gasped despite already knowing police were there.
Rick laughed.
"You don't have any idea what you're doing."
"Hands where I can see them."
Rick looked at Laura.
"Tell them."
"Tell them what?"
"To stop."
Laura stared at him.
"Give me Maya."
"You think this is about Maya?"
Jack was shaking.
Tyler kept one hand on his shoulder.
Rick looked at him.
"Tell your brother what you found."
Jack's face went white.
Ruiz said, "Rick."
Rick ignored her.
"The watch, Jack."
Laura turned.
"What watch?"
Jack squeezed Tyler's hand.
Rick smiled.
"Daniel's."
Laura's entire expression changed.
Tyler felt as if the air had been removed from the backyard.
Laura whispered, "What did you say?"
"Daniel Bennett."
"Don't say his name."
"You always wanted to know where his watch went."
Tyler stepped forward.
"Shut up."
Rick looked almost delighted.
"You found it, didn't you?"
Laura stared at Jack.
Jack began crying.
"Mom..."
She looked toward the garage.
"What is he talking about?"
Rick spread his hands.
"Your boys have been digging into things they don't understand."
Detective Ruiz stepped closer.
"Turn around."
Rick moved backward.
A second impact shook the garage door.
SLAM.
Then Maya screamed.
"HELP!"
Catherine heard it from next door.
Her scream carried over the fence.
"MAYA!"
The operation collapsed into motion.
Detective Ruiz rushed the garage.
An officer raised bolt cutters.
Rick tackled him.
Tyler moved Jack behind the barbecue table.
Laura ran toward the garage.
Ruiz shouted for her to stay back.
The lock snapped.
The garage door lifted six inches.
Then stopped.
Something inside blocked it.
Officers pulled.
Wood cracked.
Tyler heard shouting from the alley.
Gary.
"GO!"
A vehicle engine roared.
Ruiz shouted into her radio.
"Rear perimeter!"
Rick broke free from one officer and ran toward the side gate.
Tyler saw him coming.
Rick shoved him hard.
Tyler hit the concrete.
Rick reached the gate.
Jack stepped into his path.
For one instant they faced each other.
Rick towered over him.
"Move."
Jack did not.
"Move!"
Jack's entire body trembled.
But he stayed.
"No."
Rick reached for him.
Tyler launched himself from the ground and wrapped both arms around Rick's waist.
They crashed against the fence.
Two officers piled on.
Rick fought wildly.
"GET OFF ME!"
The garage door finally rose.
Darkness.
A fallen storage shelf.
Broken boxes.
And Maya Collins.
She was crouched behind the shelf, wearing the same yellow hoodie she had disappeared in six days earlier.
Mud covered her clothes.
Her ankle was wrapped in cloth.
She looked exhausted.
But alive.
Catherine came through the open gate.
"Maya!"
Maya began sobbing.
"Mom!"
Catherine ran to her.
Laura covered her mouth.
Jack stood frozen.
Maya saw him.
"Jack."
He started toward her.
Then stopped.
"I am sorry."
Maya shook her head.
"No."
"I'm sorry."
She reached for him.
Jack crossed the garage and hugged her.
For a moment, Tyler forgot about Rick.
Forgot about police.
Forgot about his father's watch.
Maya was alive.
That should have been the ending.
It wasn't.
Detective Ruiz entered the garage.
She looked around.
"Where's the box?"
Maya pointed toward the workbench.
"It's gone."
Tyler approached.
Beneath the workbench was an empty rectangle in the dust.
Ruiz's expression hardened.
Gary had taken it.
A radio call came from outside.
"Suspect vehicle broke perimeter. Heading east on Bell Avenue."
Rick, pinned to the ground, laughed.
Everyone looked at him.
Laura stared.
"What is in the box?"
Rick smiled up at her.
May you like
Then he said the sentence that turned Maya's rescue into the beginning of something much older.
"Ask your dead husband."
