Chapter 10: The Sister Who Sold Her Family
Sarah couldn't take her eyes off the photograph.
Rebecca.
Her younger sister.
The girl who used to sneak into Sarah's bedroom and borrow her clothes. The woman who had held Ava as a baby and promised she would always protect her.
The woman Sarah hadn't seen in twelve years.
And now she was standing beside Gordon Price and Curtis Bennett.
“What is she doing with them?”” Ava asked.
Sarah slowly sat down.
“I don't know.””
Daniel placed the photograph on the table.
“Rebecca introduced Thomas to Curtis. She knew about the forged inheritance documents.””
Sarah shook her head.
“No. Rebecca wouldn't do that.””
Daniel looked at her sadly.
“I'm sorry.””
“You don't understand. She was Michael's friend.””
“That's exactly why Michael trusted her.””
Sarah looked toward the window.
“When I disappeared, Rebecca told everyone I had abandoned my children. She even helped Curtis convince the police I was unstable.””
Wolf folded his arms.
“Did she know where you were hiding?””
Sarah nodded slowly.
“She knew the storage facility. I told her about it years ago because Michael used to keep tools there.””
Ava looked at her mother.
“Did she know Noah was there?””
Sarah covered her mouth.
“I don't know, sweetheart.””
Wolf turned toward Detective Harris.
“We need to find Rebecca.””
Harris nodded.
“We've already started looking. Her car was spotted near the hospital earlier tonight.””
“Where is she now?””
“We don't know.””
Daniel studied the photograph again.
“Thomas won't stop until he gets the memory card.””
Wolf looked at him.
“Then we give him what he wants.””
Sarah immediately stood.
“No!””
Wolf raised a hand.
“Not the real one.””
He looked at Ava.
“Your father made a backup. Didn't he?””
Ava nodded.
“He left a memory card in the jacket.””
“Then we'll make a copy.””
Detective Harris shook his head.
“That's not enough. We need to preserve the original evidence and document the chain of custody.””
Wolf nodded.
“Fine. We'll do it properly.””
Sarah looked at the children.
“Whatever happens, you two stay with me.””
Noah nodded.
Ava, however, was staring at the photograph.
“Mom?””
“Yes?””
“Why is Aunt Rebecca wearing Dad's ring?””
Sarah looked closer.
The woman in the photograph had a silver ring hanging from a chain around her neck.
Sarah's face went pale.
“That's impossible.””
Daniel leaned forward.
“What?””
Sarah touched the photograph.
“That ring belonged to Michael.””
Wolf looked at her.
“I thought my father had it.””
“He did. But Michael borrowed it after Daniel disappeared. He said it was important.””
Daniel frowned.
“Michael returned it to me.””
“Then why is Rebecca wearing it?””
Nobody answered.
Sarah suddenly remembered something.
Twelve years earlier, Rebecca had come to their house crying.
She said she had lost her job.
Michael gave her money.
He also gave her a place to stay.
Three months later, she disappeared without saying goodbye.
Sarah had always assumed Rebecca was embarrassed.
Now she understood.
Rebecca hadn't disappeared.
She had been working with Thomas.
At 1:15 a.m., Detective Harris received a call.
He listened for several seconds.
Then his expression changed.
“Where?””
He grabbed his coat.
Wolf stood.
“What happened?””
“We found Rebecca's car.””
“Where?””
“An abandoned motel outside town.””
Daniel shook his head.
“She won't be alone.””
Harris looked at him.
“Why?””
“Because Thomas never lets anyone operate independently.””
Wolf picked up his helmet.
“Then we go together.””
Harris pointed toward the children.
“Absolutely not. The family stays here.””
Wolf looked at Sarah.
“Lock the door. Don't let anyone in unless they identify themselves through the police.””
Sarah nodded.
Ava grabbed his sleeve.
“Please find out why my aunt did this.””
Wolf looked down.
“I will.””
Then he left with Detective Harris and Ryder.
The motel was nearly deserted.
A broken neon sign buzzed above the entrance.
Room 108 had a light on.
Harris approached first.
He knocked.
“Police. Open the door.””
Nothing.
He knocked again.
“Rebecca Bennett?””
A chair scraped across the floor.
Then the door opened a few inches.
A woman in her early forties appeared.
Her dark red scarf hung loosely around her neck.
Her eyes widened when she saw Wolf.
“You.””
Wolf stepped forward.
“Rebecca.””
She tried to close the door.
Harris stopped it with his foot.
“Ma'am, we need to speak with you.””
Rebecca backed away.
“I don't know anything.””
Wolf entered.
“Then why were you at the hospital?””
“I went to see my sister.””
“You brought Thomas's money.””
Rebecca looked away.
Harris examined the room.
A suitcase sat on the bed.
Beside it was a passport and a plane ticket.
Wolf noticed a second photograph on the bedside table.
It showed Ava and Noah outside their school.
His expression hardened.
“Why do you have pictures of the children?””
Rebecca crossed her arms.
“I'm their aunt.””
“You haven't seen them in twelve years.””
“That's none of your business.””
Wolf picked up the photograph.
“Did you give Thomas information about their school?””
Rebecca said nothing.
“Did you tell Curtis where Sarah was hiding?””
“I was trying to protect them.””
Wolf laughed.
“By photographing children?””
Rebecca suddenly shouted.
“You don't know what you're talking about!””
Harris stepped closer.
“Then explain.””
Rebecca's shoulders dropped.
She sat on the bed.
“Thomas promised me everything would be different.””
“What did he promise?”” Wolf asked.
“Money. A house. A chance to start over.””
“You sold your own sister for a house?””
Rebecca looked up angrily.
“She always got everything!””
Sarah's name seemed to ignite something inside her.
“Sarah had Michael. She had a beautiful family. She had people who loved her. I was always the one who got left behind.””
Wolf stared at her.
“So you helped Curtis steal from Michael?””
Rebecca began crying.
“I didn't know it would go this far.””
“Did you know about the accident?””
She shook her head.
“Did you know Curtis left Michael on the road?””
Rebecca covered her face.
Then she whispered:
“Yes.””
Harris immediately took out his notebook.
“Explain.””
Rebecca looked toward the window.
“Thomas told Curtis to scare Michael. He said they only needed the documents. Curtis followed him that night.””
“And?””
“Curtis called me afterward. He said Michael was dead.””
Wolf's fists tightened.
“Did you call an ambulance?””
Rebecca shook her head.
“Why not?””
“Because Thomas said if I did, he would make sure I disappeared too.””
Wolf stared at her.
“That's your excuse?””
Rebecca looked down.
Then she reached into her handbag.
“I have something.””
She removed a small voice recorder.
“Thomas gave me this two weeks ago.””
Harris took it.
“What is it?””
“An audio recording. He wanted me to use it against Sarah if she went to the police.””
Wolf looked at her.
“What's on it?””
Rebecca swallowed.
“His voice.””
“About what?””
Rebecca's answer was almost inaudible.
“About the night Michael died.””
Then her phone vibrated.
A message appeared.
*THOMAS: GET THE CARD. THE CHILDREN ARE THE LEVERAGE. MIDNIGHT MEANS MIDNIGHT.*
Wolf read it.
Then he looked at Rebecca.
“Where is Thomas?””
She stared at the message.
And whispered:
“He's already inside the hospital.””
At the hospital, the lights flickered again.
Sarah immediately pulled Noah closer.
Ava stood beside the door.
Daniel looked toward the corridor.
“Something's wrong.””
A nurse entered.
“Mrs. Bennett, we need to move you to another room.””
Sarah frowned.
“Why?””
“There's a security issue.””
Daniel stepped forward.
“Who sent you?””
The nurse hesitated.
Then she reached into her pocket.
Ava saw the movement.
“Mom!””
The nurse pulled out a folded piece of paper.
Not a weapon.
An identification badge.
She turned it around.
On the back was a photograph of Thomas.
And underneath it, a message:
*THE CHILDREN LEAVE WITH ME. OR THE OLD MAN DIES.*
Sarah screamed.
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At that exact moment, the room door slammed shut.
And someone turned the lock from the outside.
