Chapter 7 - Room 417)
The police report changed the situation, but not as much as Emily expected.
There was no clear evidence proving Margaret had entered the apartment.
The spare key could have been duplicated before the locks were changed.
The maintenance access history showed no entry that night.
The security camera inside the hallway had been offline for scheduled maintenance from 1:00 to 4:00 a.m.
Rachel called it impossible timing.
Emily called it terrifying.
Martin called it useful evidence, but not enough.
The following morning, Margaret's attorney denied everything.
Margaret claimed Emily had misplaced Ava's documents herself.
She said the note was fabricated.
She suggested Rachel was encouraging Emily's paranoia.
Emily read the response twice.
"They're making me sound insane."
Martin nodded.
"That is the strategy."
"How do I fight something where every reaction becomes proof?"
"With documentation."
"While they keep getting closer to my daughter?"
Martin had no satisfying answer.
Then his receptionist entered.
"There's a call for Mrs. Carter."
"Who?"
"A motel manager."
Emily took it.
The man introduced himself as Samuel Ortiz, manager of the River Glen Motor Lodge.
"I received your number from the attorney's letter."
Emily looked at Martin.
He had sent preservation requests to the car company and motel.
Samuel continued.
"I thought you should know someone checked into the room early."
Emily's stomach tightened.
"What room?"
"417."
"The reservation isn't until tomorrow."
"It was changed."
"By whom?"
"A woman named Beatrice Hale."
Emily stood.
"When?"
"Last night."
"Is she there now?"
"I don't know. Staff saw her leave this morning."
"Was there a child?"
"No."
Emily exhaled.
Samuel hesitated.
"But there's something unusual."
"What?"
"They brought children's supplies into the room."
Emily looked at Rachel.
"What kind of supplies?"
"A portable crib. Diapers. A booster seat. Groceries."
Martin started taking notes.
Emily asked, "Who is they?"
"Two women."
"Beatrice and Margaret?"
"I can confirm Ms. Hale signed. I don't know the other woman's name."
"What else?"
Samuel lowered his voice.
"One of our housekeepers saw a folder on the desk. It had a child's photograph attached."
Emily's hands went cold.
"Can you describe the child?"
"Brown hair. Pink coat."
Ava.
Rachel mouthed the name.
Emily forced herself to remain calm.
"Mr. Ortiz, do not enter the room unless your policy allows it. Preserve every record. Security video, payment information, key logs."
Martin nodded approval.
Samuel promised.
After the call, Emily wanted to drive directly to the motel.
Martin stopped her.
"If Margaret wants to portray you as unstable, confronting them at a motel is exactly the kind of scene they'll use."
"So I sit here?"
"No. We use the information correctly."
A subpoena request was prepared.
The police received an update.
Martin contacted Margaret's attorney and demanded an explanation.
For four hours, nothing happened.
At 2:30 p.m., Beatrice called Emily.
Emily answered on speaker.
"What?"
Beatrice sounded exhausted.
"You contacted the motel."
"Yes."
"You shouldn't have."
"Why?"
"Because now Margaret knows."
"Knows what?"
"That you're watching."
Emily almost laughed.
"She broke into my apartment."
"I told her not to."
Rachel's eyes widened.
Emily leaned toward the phone.
"Say that again."
Silence.
"You told her not to break into my apartment?"
"I didn't say she did."
"You just did."
Beatrice began breathing rapidly.
"Emily, listen to me."
"I'm listening."
"Cancel the hearing."
"No."
"Just cancel it."
"No."
"If you let Margaret have regular access to Ava, she might withdraw the petition."
"Might?"
"She doesn't want a war."
"She started one."
"She thinks you're keeping Ava from her."
"I am keeping Ava from her because she tried to take her."
Beatrice whispered, "You don't know how bad things are."
Emily glanced at Rachel.
"What things?"
Another pause.
"The loan."
"Four hundred eighty thousand dollars?"
Beatrice gasped.
Emily knew she had hit the truth.
"How much is it now?"
"I don't know."
"Why does Mom owe that money?"
Beatrice's voice cracked.
"It wasn't supposed to get this far."
"What wasn't?"
"Years ago, Margaret invested with someone."
"In what?"
"A property deal."
"And?"
"It failed."
"That doesn't explain half a million dollars."
"She borrowed more to cover the first loan."
"And you guaranteed it."
Beatrice began crying.
"She said she'd lose the apartment."
Emily had little sympathy left.
"So you decided to take my daughter?"
"No."
"There's a room with a crib waiting for her."
"I didn't want that."
"You paid for the car."
"I didn't know what she was planning when I paid."
"Stop lying."
"I'm not."
"Then tell me what Room 417 is for."
Beatrice said nothing.
Emily continued.
"Tell me."
Beatrice whispered, "It's supposed to look like you left."
Rachel went still.
Emily's voice dropped.
"What?"
"Margaret said Ava would be safe the whole time."
"Where?"
"At the motel."
"With whom?"
"With us."
"For how long?"
"Two nights. Maybe three."
"And while she's missing?"
Beatrice began sobbing.
"Margaret would call the court."
Emily felt physically sick.
"She was going to report Ava missing?"
"She was going to say you had a breakdown and disappeared."
Emily closed her eyes.
"Then what?"
"When Ava was found with family, Margaret would say you'd asked her to take the child because you couldn't cope."
"That's insane."
"I know."
"And you agreed?"
"I didn't."
"You booked the room."
"I thought I could stop her."
"You packed a crib."
Silence.
Emily's anger became quiet.
That frightened even Rachel.
"What happens after Margaret becomes guardian?"
Beatrice answered in a whisper.
"She petitions the trust for housing expenses."
"How much?"
"She thinks she can get enough to refinance the debt."
"The trust is Ava's money."
"I know."
"No. You don't."
Emily stood.
"You looked at my daughter and saw collateral."
Beatrice started to speak.
Emily ended the call.
Rachel looked at her.
"We have it recorded."
Martin listened to the recording twice.
"This changes the case."
But that afternoon Beatrice's attorney claimed she had been confused and emotionally pressured.
Margaret denied the entire conversation.
Then Room 417 was emptied.
Security cameras showed two women removing the portable crib, groceries, and bags.
Faces partly obscured by hats.
The motel reservation was canceled.
The car service was canceled.
Everything seemed to retreat.
For the first time in weeks, Emily thought maybe Margaret had finally given up.
The next morning, Ava's childcare center held a family rooftop play session because their indoor activity room was being repainted.
Emily almost kept Ava home.
Rachel convinced her to go.
"You're allowed to live your life."
Emily agreed on one condition.
Rachel stayed with Ava every second.
At 4:38 p.m., Emily went downstairs to retrieve Ava's forgotten water bottle.
She was gone less than seven minutes.
When she returned, the rooftop door had been wedged shut from the other side.
Emily pounded on it.
"Rachel!"
No answer.
She ran down one floor and took the service stairwell to the opposite rooftop entrance.
As she climbed, her phone rang.
Rachel.
Emily answered.
May you like
All she heard was screaming.
Then Rachel shouted, "Emily, get up here now."
