Chapter 13: The Attorney's Last Move
"Where is Emily?""
My voice came out louder than I intended.
Daniel turned toward me.
"What happened?""
I held up my phone.
"Eric says Lawson has taken her.""
For a second, Daniel looked confused. Then his expression changed.
"That's impossible. Martin was with us.""
"Apparently, he wasn't.""
I called Eric.
He answered immediately.
"Sarah, where are you?""
"Outside the diner. Where's Emily?""
"I left her with Margaret at the house. I went inside to get my jacket, and when I came back, they were gone.""
"Both of them?""
"No. Just Emily. Margaret is unconscious in the kitchen.""
My knees nearly buckled.
"What?""
"I found her on the floor. There's a broken glass beside her. I called an ambulance, but she's breathing.""
"Where are you now?""
"At Dad's house. I'm waiting for the paramedics.""
I looked at Daniel.
"We're going back.""
He grabbed his keys.
I called my father again.
"Mr. Lawson has Emily.""
"I know.""
"How?""
"Because Martin called me twenty minutes ago.""
I stopped walking.
"What did he say?""
"He wants the original recording.""
"Why would he take Emily?""
"Because he believes she's the only person who can lead him to it.""
I looked toward the diner.
Thomas was coming outside.
"Then tell him where it is.""
My father sighed.
"I can't.""
"Why?""
"Because the recording contains something that could destroy more than Martin's career.""
"What?""
"Names, Sarah. Thirty-two names. People who were involved in the original operation. Some of them are still powerful.""
I gripped the phone.
"And what does Emily have to do with them?""
"Her biological father made a copy of the evidence before he disappeared.""
I looked at Thomas.
He was watching me.
"Thomas?""
"Yes.""
"He's standing right here.""
My father was silent.
Then he said something I hadn't expected.
"Ask him what happened to the first witness.""
I turned toward Thomas.
"What happened to the first witness?""
His face tightened.
"Your father should not be discussing this over the phone.""
"Answer me.""
Thomas looked toward Daniel.
Then he spoke.
"Her name was Rebecca Collins.""
The name meant nothing to me.
"Who was she?""
"The woman whose child was placed with Elizabeth.""
I stared.
"You're saying the child who became Emily was originally Rebecca's?""
Thomas nodded.
"Yes.""
"Then why did you tell us Margaret was her mother?""
"Because Margaret raised the child temporarily after Rebecca died.""
My head was spinning.
"How did Rebecca die?""
Thomas looked down.
"She was murdered.""
I felt cold.
"By whom?""
He looked directly at me.
"Martin Lawson.""
I stared at him.
"You're accusing Dad's attorney of murder?""
"Yes.""
"Do you have proof?""
Thomas removed a folded paper from his coat.
"I've been carrying it for twenty-eight years.""
He handed it to me.
It was a handwritten statement dated October 1998.
The signature at the bottom belonged to a military officer.
Martin Lawson.
I looked up.
"Your father hired him as a legal adviser," Thomas explained.
"He wasn't just handling the paperwork. He was involved in the original operation.""
Daniel stepped closer.
"Then why did Robert keep him around?""
"Because Robert needed him close enough to watch.""
My phone rang again.
Unknown number.
I answered.
Martin Lawson's voice came through.
"Sarah. I believe we need to have a conversation.""
"Where is my daughter?""
"She's safe.""
"Put her on the phone.""
"Not until you tell me where Robert hid the original recording.""
I looked at Thomas.
He shook his head.
I returned to the phone.
"I don't know.""
"Don't insult me. Your father has spent twenty-eight years protecting that recording. He wouldn't leave it somewhere random.""
"Then perhaps you should ask him.""
Martin laughed softly.
"Your father has always been a difficult man. That's why your uncle had to die.""
My blood ran cold.
"You killed Michael?""
"I didn't intend for him to die.""
"That's not an answer.""
"He was supposed to remain in the medical facility. Someone made a mistake.""
"You poisoned Dad.""
A pause.
Then Martin sighed.
"Your father was already dying, Sarah. I simply accelerated what was inevitable.""
I felt sick.
"You're a monster.""
"Perhaps. But I'm a monster who understands how the world works.""
I heard a faint voice in the background.
Emily.
"Mom!""
I nearly dropped the phone.
"Emily!""
Martin interrupted.
"She's fine. But she won't remain fine if you continue making this difficult.""
"Let me speak to her.""
There was a rustling sound.
Then my daughter's voice came through.
"Mom?""
"I'm here, sweetheart.""
"He's taking me somewhere.""
"Where?""
"I don't know. There's a blue sign. I can see—"
The phone was pulled away.
Martin returned.
"You have one hour.""
"One hour for what?""
"Bring me the red suit.""
I frowned.
"What?""
"The suit your brother wore at the funeral. Bring it to the old Mitchell construction warehouse. No police.
No Thomas. No Daniel.""
"Why?""
"Because the recording is sewn into the sleeve.""
I stared at Thomas.
He shook his head again.
Martin continued.
"One hour, Sarah. And if you bring anyone else, your daughter will disappear.""
The call ended.
Daniel took my phone.
"We're calling the police.""
"No.""
"Sarah, he has Emily!""
"And he specifically told us not to bring anyone.""
"He's a murderer. We can't trust him.""
Thomas stepped closer.
"Neither can we trust the police.""
Daniel turned on him.
"That's convenient.""
Thomas didn't respond.
I looked at the two men.
"Enough. Both of you.""
I called Eric.
"Get the red suit.""
"Where are you going?""
"The warehouse.""
"Sarah, no.""
"Eric, please. I need you to do one thing for me.""
"What?""
"Find out what Dad really hid in that sleeve.""
I ended the call.
Then I looked at Thomas.
"You're coming with me.""
He shook his head.
"Martin told you not to.""
"I don't care what Martin told me.""
Thomas studied my face.
Then he nodded.
"There's something else you should know.""
"What?""
"Martin isn't working alone.""
He glanced toward Daniel.
"Someone inside your family has been helping him.""
I turned toward my husband.
Daniel looked genuinely confused.
May you like
Then Thomas added:
"And I know exactly who it is.""
