Chapter 6 - The Road North
Police issued a regional alert for Grant’s vehicle.
The problem was that Grant had more than one.
By 8:00 a.m., Detective Ruiz had identified four vehicles connected to him through businesses, relatives, and temporary registrations.
None were at the Jefferson Street house.
Wade’s gray sedan was found abandoned behind a grocery store.
Daniel wanted every officer in the county looking for Maya and Caleb.
Ruiz reminded him that wanting something did not create evidence.
Then a traffic camera gave them their first lead.
At 5:52 a.m., a dark blue pickup associated with Mercer Property Services crossed Route 17 heading north.
The camera image showed Grant driving.
A smaller figure sat in the passenger seat.
Someone else appeared in the rear.
They could not identify the children with certainty.
But Daniel did not need certainty.
“That’s them.”
Ruiz did not disagree.
Police agencies along the route were notified.
Daniel returned to his company headquarters.
Rachel met him there.
So did Daniel’s chief financial officer, Marcus Hill.
Marcus had worked for Daniel eleven years.
He was one of the few people Daniel trusted absolutely.
Daniel explained just enough.
“Five years ago, we paid North Crest Restoration after the Edison warehouse fire.”
Marcus nodded.
“I remember.”
“I want everything.”
“Contracts.”
“Insurance reports.”
“Wire transfers.”
“Vendor approvals.”
“Emails.”
Marcus stared at him.
“Five years?”
“Yes.”
“That’s a lot.”
“Then start.”
By noon, conference room B was covered in records.
Daniel’s company retained nearly everything.
That habit, once mocked by his staff, became their advantage.
North Crest had been paid $614,000.
The company dissolved eighteen months later.
Its listed owner was a man named Theodore Pike.
Daniel did not recognize him.
Marcus did.
“Wait.”
He searched an old vendor file.
Then placed a photocopied driver’s license on the table.
Theodore Pike.
Forty-one.
Dark hair.
Thin face.
Daniel stared.
Not Grant.
Then Marcus slid over an employee-site photograph.
Three subcontractors stood near a damaged warehouse.
One was Wade.
Younger.
With hair.
But unmistakable.
Daniel called Ruiz.
She arrived with another detective.
The records expanded the investigation.
North Crest had connections to at least six suspicious insurance claims.
Three fires.
Two flood losses.
One structural failure.
Every claim involved properties that changed ownership shortly before or after the incident.
Daniel’s stomach tightened.
“Someone knew which properties were vulnerable.”
Marcus frowned.
“What do you mean?”
“Vacant buildings.”
“Renovation schedules.”
“Insurance coverage.”
“That information isn’t public.”
Ruiz looked at Daniel.
“Who had access?”
“Employees.”
“Brokers.”
“Insurance agents.”
“Contractors.”
“Dozens of people.”
“Could Rebecca access it?”
Daniel’s eyes flashed.
“No.”
“I’m asking.”
“She never worked for my company.”
“But she knew you.”
“That doesn’t mean—”
Rachel interrupted gently.
“Daniel.”
He stopped.
Ruiz was not accusing Rebecca.
She was mapping possibilities.
Daniel forced himself to think.
“Rebecca sometimes visited my office.”
“She knew some property names.”
“She may have heard conversations.”
“But she would never hand over confidential information.”
Ruiz nodded.
“I believe you.”
“But Grant may have believed she could.”
Daniel looked at Rebecca’s letter.
That explained the threats.
Perhaps Grant had wanted access.
Rebecca had refused.
Julia had learned too much.
Then Daniel’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
Everyone froze.
He answered.
“Hello?”
Silence.
Then breathing.
A child.
“Maya?”
A whisper.
“Mr. Carter?”
Daniel stood so quickly his chair rolled backward.
“Maya.”
“Where are you?”
“I don’t know.”
“Are you safe?”
“No.”
The line crackled.
Daniel put the call on speaker.
Ruiz motioned for everyone to remain quiet.
“Is Caleb with you?”
“Yes.”
“Is he breathing okay?”
“For now.”
“Where’s Grant?”
“Outside.”
“Where?”
“He stopped for gas.”
Ruiz wrote something on paper.
ASK WHAT SHE SEES.
Daniel nodded.
“Maya, look around.”
“Tell me anything.”
“A sign.”
“A store.”
“A road.”
“I can’t see much.”
“Grant put blankets over the windows.”
Daniel’s chest tightened.
“Are you in the truck?”
“No.”
“A van.”
Ruiz looked sharply at another detective.
“Color?”
“White.”
“Anything written on it?”
“I don’t know.”
“We’re in the back.”
“Can you hear anything?”
Maya went quiet.
“Trucks.”
“A lot.”
“And a bell.”
“What kind of bell?”
“I don’t know.”
“Like church bells?”
“No.”
“Like a crossing.”
A train crossing.
Ruiz began typing.
“Maya, did Grant say where you’re going?”
“No.”
“Wade said the cabin.”
Daniel looked at Ruiz.
“What cabin?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you hear a town?”
Maya whispered.
“Pine something.”
“Pine Ridge?”
“No.”
“Pine Lake?”
“I think—”
A door slammed.
Maya inhaled.
“He’s coming.”
“Maya.”
“Hide the phone.”
“I can’t.”
“What?”
“This isn’t mine.”
Daniel realized she was calling from a borrowed or discarded phone.
“I found it under the seat.”
Footsteps.
“Maya.”
“Yes?”
“If he takes the phone, don’t fight him.”
“Do you understand?”
Silence.
“Maya?”
Her voice cracked.
“Tell Ethan I’m sorry.”
The connection died.
Daniel stared at the phone.
Ruiz was already moving.
“North route.”
“White van.”
“Rail crossing.”
“Possible Pine Lake or Pine Ridge.”
Another detective ran the number.
Prepaid device.
No subscriber.
But the call had hit a cellular tower.
Thirty-eight miles north.
Near Pine Hollow.
Ruiz looked at Daniel.
“Pine Hollow has a freight crossing.”
Daniel was already opening a map.
“And cabins.”
“Hundreds.”
Ethan called.
Daniel answered.
“Dad?”
Daniel did not want to tell him.
Then Rebecca’s letter came back again.
Frightened people sometimes lie because the truth has become dangerous.
Daniel refused to lie.
“Maya called.”
“Is she okay?”
“She’s alive.”
“What did she say?”
“She and Caleb are with Grant.”
“Where?”
“We’re working on it.”
Ethan was silent.
Then he said, “Ask about Blue Heron.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“Maya told me once Caleb liked a place called Blue Heron because there were ducks.”
“She said her mom took them there.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“She said Grant hated it.”
Daniel looked at Ruiz.
She had heard.
She typed.
Three seconds later she turned the screen.
Blue Heron Cabins.
Pine Hollow.
May you like
Closed to the public for renovation.
The listed renovation contractor was Mercer Property Services.
