Chapter 5 - THE FATHER WHO WASN'T HER FATHER
Police arrived.
Detective Ryan Walker took lead.
He knew Victor by reputation.
Not conviction history.
Reputation.
Ryan asked:
“Why were you here?”
Victor answered:
“Lunch.”
“With two bodyguards?”
“I dislike lunch alone.”
Ryan stared.
Victor stared back.
Then Emma reached toward Ryan’s badge.
“Star.”
Ryan softened.
“Yes.”
Emma looked at Victor.
“Big man.”
Marcus coughed to hide a laugh.
Then Ryan asked about Laura.
Victor said:
“She knows Voss.”
Ryan paused.
“You know Laura Carter?”
“No.”
“You know her employer?”
“Former employer.”
Then Victor handed over the microSD.
That surprised Ryan.
“What is this?”
“Found in the child’s shoe.”
Ryan looked at him.
“You opened it?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Victor answered:
“Because if it’s evidence, I don’t want your lawyer saying I contaminated it.”
Ryan almost smiled.
Victor had thought ahead.
Too far ahead.
Then Emma’s emergency contact records came back.
Father listed:
Thomas Carter.
Deceased.
Emma’s biological father had died before she was born.
Laura had been raising her alone.
Daniel Price was not the father.
He was Laura’s boyfriend.
That changed the risk.
If Laura trusted him with Emma, maybe.
If she didn’t, worse.
Then one officer entered.
“We found Laura’s car.”
Abandoned.
Engine running.
No Laura.
No Daniel.
Victor’s expression went flat.
Ryan said:
“You know something.”
Victor answered:
“Yes.”
May you like
Pause.
“Voss found them first.”
