Chapter 6 - THE NUMBER THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD
Mercer did not immediately assume Claire had made the call.
He knew better.
A phone number could be reassigned, spoofed, or used by someone other than its registered owner.
But its appearance was significant.
Especially because Claire's original phone had never been recovered.
“Don't call it back,” he advised.
I nodded.
“Can you trace it?”
“We'll pursue the appropriate legal process. First, I need to preserve the call details.”
Emily watched us from the bed.
“Was it Claire?”
“We don't know,” Mercer answered.
She looked disappointed.
And afraid.
I understood both emotions.
The possibility that Claire might still be alive was almost unbearable.
Because hope could be as dangerous as fear when it rested on too little evidence.
Mercer left to contact the investigative team.
I sat beside Emily and watched the early morning light creep across the hospital curtains.
My daughter had finally fallen asleep.
For the first time in hours, her breathing was steady.
I should have felt relieved.
Instead, I kept thinking about the caller.
He knew my military service.
He knew Emily was in the hospital.
And he knew about Claire.
Someone was watching.
At six fifteen, a hospital administrator arrived with a security supervisor.
She explained that a man had attempted to enter Emily's room using a visitor badge issued under a false name.
Security had stopped him after discovering that his identification did not match the registration information.
He left before officers arrived.
“Did you get his photograph?” I asked.
“Yes, ma'am. Our cameras recorded him.”
I asked that the footage be preserved for police.
The administrator nodded.
Then she looked at Emily.
“Your daughter's visitor restrictions will remain in place.”
I thanked her.
But I understood something.
The Bennetts were not merely trying to control the narrative.
Someone was still trying to reach Emily.
And whatever she had copied from Jason's computer was important enough to frighten them.
At seven thirty, Detective Mercer returned.
He carried a thin folder.
“Colonel, we need to discuss the flash drive.”
“Have you found it?”
“Not yet.”
He opened the folder.
“We obtained information indicating that Jason's vehicle left the hospital shortly after midnight.”
“Where did he go?”
“Back toward the estate.”
“Was anyone with him?”
“His brother.”
I looked toward Emily.
She was awake now.
Listening.
Mercer continued.
“We're taking steps to secure relevant evidence. But I need to know whether Emily made any other copies.”
My daughter shook her head.
“I only had the flash drive.”
“Did you upload anything?”
“I tried.”
Mercer leaned forward.
“To where?”
“My email.”
“Did it work?”
“I don't think so. The files were too large.”
She frowned.
“Wait.”
I watched her expression change.
“Jason's laptop had a backup program.”
Mercer remained quiet.
“It synchronized his files automatically.”
“Do you know where?”
Emily hesitated.
“No.”
Then she looked at me.
“But I know someone who might.”
“Who?”
“His accountant.”
Mercer wrote down the name.
“Martin Ellis.”
Emily nodded.
“He told Jason once that deleting a file didn't mean it was gone.”
I glanced at Mercer.
“Can you speak with him?”
“We will.”
Emily looked toward the window.
“Martin was afraid of Evelyn.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because he knew about the money.”
Mercer stopped writing.
“What money?”
Emily's face tightened.
“The accounts Claire found.”
She looked at me.
“Mom, I don't think Claire disappeared because of Jason alone.”
I felt my stomach sink.
May you like
Emily continued.
“I think she found out what the whole family was doing.”
