Chapter 11 - twenty-seven minutes)
Police surrounded Margaret’s house before sunset.
Julian was not inside.
But he had been.
The study smelled of gasoline.
On Richard’s old desk sat a digital timer.
27:00.
Beside it was a photograph of Elodie.
Brooks stared at the setup.
“He wants us to know he can still reach her.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“He can’t.”
Then an officer called from upstairs.
They had found a hidden wireless camera in Margaret’s guest bedroom.
Recently installed.
Julian had been watching Margaret.
Another camera faced the front entrance.
A third overlooked the street.
He had known when police arrived.
Brooks said, “He’s controlling the scene.”
Daniel looked at the timer.
“Why twenty-seven minutes?”
“To punish Margaret.”
“No.”
Daniel studied the photograph of Elodie.
“Because he wants us somewhere else.”
Brooks looked at him.
Daniel continued.
“He knows we found the trust amendment. He knows Elodie is protected at the hospital. He knows we’re all focused on this house.”
His phone rang.
Claire.
Daniel answered immediately.
“Claire?”
Her voice was tight.
“You need to come back.”
“What happened?”
“Elodie is gone.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Brooks grabbed the phone.
“How?”
Claire was crying.
“She was here. The officer stepped out because another child coded two doors down. I went to get medication. When I came back, the bed was empty.”
Daniel’s vision blurred.
“The cameras?”
“Hallway feed went dark for ninety seconds.”
Brooks was already shouting orders.
Daniel whispered, “No.”
Claire continued.
“There’s something on the bed.”
“What?”
“Bunny.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
Julian had taken Elodie but left the rabbit.
The trust was no longer inside it.
Which meant Julian knew they had removed the document.
He did not need Elodie for the amendment anymore.
He needed her for something else.
Daniel looked at the timer.
27:00.
Then he remembered Julian’s message.
Tonight ends where Richard died.
Not the house.
Where Richard died.
Daniel had always believed Richard died in the study.
But Margaret’s confession said she waited twenty-seven minutes before calling an ambulance.
Richard had not died in the study.
He had died in the ambulance.
Daniel turned to Brooks.
“Where was my father pronounced dead?”
She understood immediately.
They pulled the archived emergency report.
Richard Hayes had been pronounced dead at 8:42 p.m. in Ambulance Unit 17 while parked near the old Hayes manufacturing entrance because paramedics had attempted resuscitation before continuing to the hospital.
Where Richard died was not Margaret’s house.
It was the factory.
Warehouse entrance.
Brooks called tactical units.
Daniel was told to stay behind.
He refused.
No one had time to argue.
At 8:15 p.m., police surrounded the abandoned factory.
A light glowed inside Warehouse C.
Daniel saw a vehicle near the loading dock.
Elodie sat inside.
Alive.
Julian stood beside her.
He held no visible weapon.
Daniel stepped out before Brooks could stop him.
“Julian.”
The older man turned.
Daniel saw family resemblance instantly.
Richard’s eyes.
Richard’s posture.
But there was something broken in the expression.
Julian placed one hand on Elodie’s shoulder.
Daniel’s body tensed.
“Take your hand off her.”
Julian smiled.
“You sound like your mother.”
Daniel took another step.
“Let her go.”
“I will.”
Elodie looked terrified.
“Daddy.”
“I’m here.”
Julian glanced at the officers positioned behind vehicles.
“If they come closer, I leave with her.”
Brooks shouted, “Julian, you are surrounded.”
He laughed.
“I’ve been surrounded by Hayes family mistakes my whole life.”
Daniel kept his eyes on Elodie.
“What do you want?”
“The amendment.”
“You know police have it.”
“I want the original.”
“Why?”
“Because without it, there’s no automatic disqualification.”
Daniel shook his head.
“They copied it.”
Julian’s smile vanished.
“Copies can be challenged.”
“You think kidnapping a seven-year-old helps your claim?”
Julian’s jaw tightened.
“I deserve what Richard stole from me.”
Daniel stared.
“You drugged my daughter for money.”
“I gave her enough to create a medical event.”
“She stopped breathing properly.”
“A miscalculation.”
Daniel felt rage rise.
But Sarah’s voice returned.
Listen.
Not control.
Listen.
Daniel looked at Julian.
“You hate Margaret.”
“Yes.”
“You blame her for Richard.”
“She killed him.”
“You supplied the drugs.”
Julian’s face twitched.
Daniel continued.
“You tampered with Sarah’s brakes.”
Silence.
Elodie looked up at Julian.
His hand tightened.
Daniel saw it.
“Sarah found out you and Margaret were both responsible.”
Julian said nothing.
“You killed her because she knew.”
“She was going to destroy everything.”
Daniel almost laughed.
“That is exactly what Margaret says.”
Julian’s expression changed.
Daniel pressed.
“You spent your life believing you were different from her.”
Julian stepped backward.
“You know nothing about me.”
“I know enough.”
“She erased me.”
“And you became her.”
Julian’s face twisted with rage.
For one moment his hand left Elodie’s shoulder.
Daniel shouted, “Elodie, run.”
She ran.
Julian grabbed for her.
Daniel charged.
The next seconds became noise.
Police shouting.
Elodie screaming.
Daniel slammed into Julian.
They crashed against the side of the vehicle.
Julian struck him across the jaw.
Daniel barely felt it.
He drove Julian to the ground.
Julian reached inside his coat.
Brooks shouted.
“Hands.”
Daniel grabbed Julian’s wrist.
A syringe fell onto the concrete.
Officers rushed forward.
Within seconds, Julian was pinned.
Handcuffed.
Elodie ran into Daniel’s arms.
He held her against his chest.
She sobbed.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“I’ve got you.”
This time he did.
Across the concrete, Julian looked up.
Blood ran from his lip.
He laughed.
Daniel stared at him.
“What?”
Julian smiled.
“You think this ends with me?”
Brooks hauled him upright.
Julian looked at Daniel.
“Ask your mother who paid for Sarah’s car.”
Daniel’s heart stopped.
Julian was dragged toward a police vehicle.
Daniel looked at Brooks.
“What did he mean?”
Brooks said nothing.
May you like
Because neither of them knew.
Yet.
