Chapter 10 - THE FATHER'S SECRET
Daniel Carter denied everything.
Loudly.
“You think I paid someone to put a snake beside my own daughter?”
Detective Ortiz sat across from him.
I watched through the observation glass.
Daniel slammed one palm on the interview table.
“This is insane.”
Ortiz remained calm.
“Mr. Bennett received twelve thousand dollars through a shell company.”
“So?”
“The company traces back to Carter Holdings.”
Daniel froze.
Carter Holdings belonged to his law firm.
Ortiz leaned forward.
“Want to explain that?”
“I can’t.”
“Try.”
“I didn’t authorize any payment.”
“But someone did.”
Daniel rubbed both hands over his face.
Then he looked toward the mirror.
He knew I was probably behind it.
“Is Mercer there?”
Ortiz said nothing.
Daniel stood.
“Officer Mercer! If you’re listening, I did not hurt my daughter.”
I entered the room.
Harris would hate it.
I didn’t care.
Daniel looked at me.
“I love Emily.”
“Then help us.”
“I don’t know anything about Vale.”
“What about Lucas Bennett?”
“Never met him.”
“Who has access to Carter Holdings?”
Daniel hesitated.
“My partners. Accounting.”
“Your wife?”
“No.”
“Anyone in your family?”
“My brother.”
Ortiz looked up.
“Name?”
“Colin Carter.”
“What does Colin do?”
“He manages media relations for the firm.”
I understood.
“He knew how viral police footage could affect a lawsuit.”
Daniel stared at me.
“What are you implying?”
Before I could answer, Ortiz’s phone rang.
She listened.
Then her eyes shifted toward me.
“When?”
She hung up.
“Emily’s missing.”
Daniel went white.
“What?”
“Natalie picked her up from school thirty minutes ago.”
“I thought—”
“She never arrived.”
Daniel grabbed his phone.
“I’m calling her.”
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Ortiz stood.
“Find Colin.”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“What?”
“My brother picked Emily up last week when Natalie was late.”
My stomach dropped.
“He’s approved at the school?”
“Yes.”
Ortiz was already moving.
We found security footage within fifteen minutes.
At 2:47 p.m., Colin Carter walked into Emily’s elementary school.
At 2:53, he walked out holding Emily’s hand.
She appeared completely comfortable.
Because she trusted him.
The footage captured his vehicle.
Black SUV.
License plate clear.
Dispatch issued the alert.
Daniel sank into a chair.
“Why would Colin do this?”
Ortiz looked at him.
“Maybe because the snake incident was never about Titan.”
I stared at her.
“What do you mean?”
She turned her laptop.
Financial records.
Emails.
Insurance documents.
“Carter Holdings is under federal investigation.”
Daniel looked lost.
“For what?”
“Embezzlement.”
“That's impossible.”
“Over three million dollars moved through accounts controlled by Colin.”
Daniel stopped breathing.
Ortiz continued.
“He needed a distraction.”
“A dog attack?”
“A public lawsuit against the city. Media attention. Settlement pressure. Chaos inside your firm.”
I looked at Daniel.
“He used your daughter.”
Daniel’s face collapsed.
Then my phone rang.
Natalie.
I answered.
“Where are you?”
Crying.
“I’m in my car.”
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“Where’s Emily?”
“Colin took her.”
“We know.”
Natalie sobbed.
“He called me.”
“What did he say?”
She tried to catch her breath.
“He wants Daniel to bring him the password to the firm’s secure financial archive.”
Daniel stood.
“And if I don’t?”
I put the call on speaker.
Natalie’s voice filled the room.
“He says he’ll disappear with Emily.”
Then she whispered:
May you like
“He said if police follow him, she won’t come home.”
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