Chapter 10 - Forty-Seven Cents
"You're not going alone."
Daniel stood in front of the study door.
I was already putting on my shoes.
"Move."
"Sarah, listen to me."
"My daughter is being held by your uncle."
"I know."
"Then get out of my way."
He didn't move.
Instead, he reached into his pocket and placed something on the desk.
A tiny plastic bag.
Inside were two quarters and three pennies.
Forty-seven cents.
I stared at it.
"What is that?"
"The money you had when I met you."
I looked at him.
He continued.
"Mrs. Alvarez found it when she helped unpack your bag."
"Why do you have it?"
"Because I wanted to remember something."
"What?"
"How much courage it took for you to get your children that far."
My throat tightened.
"You don't need money to be brave, Sarah."
I looked away.
"I don't have time for this."
"I know."
He stepped closer.
"But I need you to understand that giving Richard what he wants won't necessarily bring Ava home."
I hated that he was right.
Richard had already lied.
He had threatened us.
He had manipulated Caleb.
And now he had taken my daughter.
"What do we do?"
Daniel reached for his phone.
"We involve the authorities."
Within minutes, Olivia arrived with a federal investigator who had been reviewing the company's suspected financial crimes.
Local law enforcement was already responding to the abduction report.
Daniel showed them the messages and the location Richard had sent.
An investigator named Agent Rebecca Torres took control of the room.
She was calm, direct, and spoke to me like a person rather than a problem.
"Sarah, we have to assume Richard may be monitoring the house."
I nodded.
"Can you bring Ava back?"
"We're going to work toward that."
She didn't promise.
I had learned to value people who told the truth.
The next hour moved in fragments.
Maps appeared on screens.
Calls were traced.
Vehicles were positioned.
A team reviewed the abandoned facility.
Daniel was told to remain available for communication.
I was asked whether I could speak to Richard again without revealing the police response.
I said yes.
At 9:16, Richard called.
"Have you made your decision?"
"Yes."
"Good girl."
I felt my stomach twist.
"Where is Ava?"
"She's comfortable."
"I want to hear her again."
"After you sign."
I took a breath.
"Then send the documents."
A message appeared.
Legal forms.
Transfers.
Releases.
A document surrendering the children's claimed trust interests.
Another authorizing Caleb to make financial decisions as their father.
I almost laughed.
Even while using my daughter as leverage, Richard needed paperwork.
Paperwork had destroyed my family once.
Now it was supposed to finish the job.
I looked toward Olivia.
She shook her head.
Not yet.
"Richard, I can't sign these without someone explaining them."
He grew impatient.
"You have twenty minutes."
"If you want valid signatures, I need an attorney."
A long silence followed.
Then he said, "Bring Olivia."
I saw Agent Torres exchange a glance with Daniel.
Richard continued.
"No police."
I swallowed.
"All right."
The call ended.
Agent Torres studied the address.
"He's moving too quickly."
Daniel looked up.
"What does that mean?"
"It means he may suspect something."
At 9:31, an officer reported a maintenance vehicle approaching the rear of the abandoned facility.
Thermal equipment detected multiple people inside.
One appeared to be a small child.
I nearly stopped breathing.
"That's Ava."
Agent Torres nodded.
"We believe so."
A few minutes later, she received another update.
A vehicle had left the property.
Two occupants.
Both adults.
"Who?" I demanded.
"We don't have identification yet."
Daniel's phone began ringing.
Martin.
He answered.
His friend sounded panicked.
"Daniel, don't go to the facility."
"Why?"
"Because I've just reviewed the security logs."
Daniel straightened.
"What did you find?"
"The fire alarm wasn't triggered from the storage room."
"Where?"
"Your study."
Daniel froze.
Martin continued.
"Someone used your personal access credentials."
"That's impossible."
"I know."
Daniel's face changed.
Agent Torres leaned forward.
"Mr. Hayes?"
Martin spoke again.
"Daniel, there is a signed authorization in the system."
"For what?"
"A private vehicle transfer."
"Who signed it?"
Martin hesitated.
"You did."
Daniel shook his head.
"No."
"And there's video."
The room fell silent.
Martin sent the file.
Daniel opened it.
On the screen, he stood outside the mansion's side entrance.
A woman in a staff jacket approached him.
He handed her a document.
Then she walked toward the service corridor.
The timestamp showed it happened fifteen minutes before Ava disappeared.
I stared at Daniel.
My stomach turned.
"You knew?"
He looked horrified.
"Sarah, that isn't what it looks like."
The video continued.
The woman walked past him.
Daniel didn't stop her.
I stepped away.
"Why did you authorize her?"
"I didn't."
"That's you on the video."
"Yes."
"Then explain it."
Daniel stared at the screen.
He recognized the woman.
I could see it.
"Who is she?"
He swallowed.
"Her name is Elise."
"Who is Elise?"
His voice dropped.
"She was my fiancée."
And before I could speak, Agent Torres received a new message.
A second security recording had surfaced.
It showed Elise leaving the estate with Ava.
Beside her sat Richard Hayes.
The video carried Daniel's digital authorization.
May you like
Suddenly, the police weren't looking only at Richard.
They were looking at my husband.
