Chapter 2 - THE BLOOD WASN'T THE FIRST PROBLEM
Ryan did not answer.
Then the call disconnected.
Emma stood at the edge of the driveway staring at the wrecked sedan while Daniel came up behind her.
“Stay here.”
She turned.
“No.”
“Emma.”
“That’s your brother’s car.”
“I know.”
“And he wants me to say I drove it.”
“I know.”
“So don’t tell me to stay here.”
Daniel looked at her for one second.
Then nodded.
They walked toward the police tape together.
A uniformed officer stepped forward.
“Ma’am, sir, this is an active scene.”
Daniel raised both hands.
“My mother lives here. The vehicle belongs to my brother.”
The officer’s face sharpened.
“Name?”
“Daniel Keller.”
The officer glanced toward another man near the driveway.
Detective Mara Chen.
She approached.
“Mr. Keller?”
“Yes.”
“Where is your brother?”
Daniel looked at Emma.
“We don’t know.”
Mara’s eyes moved to the phone in Emma’s hand.
“Did he contact you?”
Emma swallowed.
“Yes.”
“What did he say?”
Daniel started:
“We need counsel—”
Emma interrupted.
“He told me to say I was driving.”
Mara went still.
“That exact wording?”
“Yes.”
“Did he explain why?”
“No.”
The detective looked toward the car.
Then back at Emma.
“Mrs. Keller, I need your phone preserved.”
Emma held it tighter.
“Why?”
“Because at 1:49 a.m., this vehicle struck a man near the north gate.”
Her knees weakened.
“Is he alive?”
Mara’s expression did not answer immediately.
Then:
“He’s in surgery.”
Emma closed her eyes.
Daniel’s hand found her back.
Mara continued.
“The bigger problem is that someone moved the car after impact.”
Emma opened her eyes.
“What?”
“The collision happened almost half a mile away.”
She pointed toward the damaged sedan beside the mansion.
“Someone drove it back here.”
That meant whoever was behind the wheel had time to think.
May you like
Time to move evidence.
Time to call Emma twenty-one times.
