Chapter 6: The Weekend That Was Never Supposed to Happen
Emma began shaking.
I pulled the chair closer and sat beside her.
“Look at me. You're safe here.””
She nodded, but her fingers were trembling against the hospital blanket.
“Claire, I think he was planning something.””
“Tell me exactly what he said.””
“Last Sunday, he told me to pack a bag for Saturday morning. He said he had arranged a private weekend away.””
“Did he mention a destination?””
“No. I asked him where we were going, and he said it was supposed to be a surprise.””
I exchanged a glance with Laura.
“Did he say anything else?””
Emma swallowed.
“He told me to bring my passport.””
“Your passport?””
She nodded.
“He said we might cross the border into Canada.””
My eyebrows drew together.
“Did he book anything?””
“I don't know. But he kept telling me not to make other plans.””
Laura wrote everything down.
“Did he seem angry when he discussed the trip?””
Emma looked toward the window.
“No. That's what scared me.””
“What do you mean?””
“He was being nice.””
She paused.
“He brought home flowers on Monday. He cooked dinner on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he bought me a necklace.””
Her voice cracked.
“On Thursday, he asked whether I still loved him.””
I squeezed her hand.
“And what did you say?””
“I said I didn't know.””
She looked at me.
“That's when he told me Saturday would fix everything.””
Laura's expression tightened.
“Did he explain what he meant?””
Emma shook her head.
“No. But he said I wouldn't have to worry about the divorce anymore.””
The room went quiet.
I stood and walked toward the window.
There was a possibility that Daniel had planned an ordinary trip and that Emma was interpreting his words through the fear of what had happened.
But there was also a possibility that the trip was connected to the threats, the missing phone, the hidden notebook, and the suspicious visit from Hayes.
We couldn't ignore it.
Laura stepped into the corridor and called Marcus.
I remained beside Emma.
“Did you tell Daniel you wanted to cancel the trip?””
“Yes.””
“What did he say?””
“He laughed.””
“What kind of laugh?””
She looked at me.
“The kind he used when he knew I couldn't do anything about it.””
My phone rang.
Marcus.
“Claire, we've received something from the search team.””
“What?””
“They located a travel reservation connected to Daniel Mercer.””
I straightened.
“Where?””
“It's an account under his business email. Two passengers. Departure scheduled for Saturday morning.””
“Destination?””
“Montreal.””
I looked at Emma.
She was watching me.
“Is there a return ticket?”” I asked.
Marcus paused.
“No.””
My stomach dropped.
“Have they confirmed whether Emma's name is on the reservation?””
“Not yet. But there's something else.””
“What?””
“The booking was made three weeks ago.””
Three weeks.
The same time Emma had contacted the divorce attorney.
I looked toward Laura.
She had returned to the room and was listening.
“Marcus, can you check whether Daniel made any other arrangements?””
“We're working on that.””
“Also check the vehicle records and any communications that can be lawfully obtained.””
“Already requested.””
He hesitated.
“Claire, there's another issue. Hayes has been placed on administrative leave pending the initial inquiry.””
“Where is he now?””
“Not at his residence.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Where was he last seen?””
“His department vehicle was recorded near the Mercer property at 6:20 a.m.””
I looked at the clock.
It was now 7:04.
“Why would he go back there?””
“We don't know.””
Then Marcus said something that made my blood run cold.
“The responding team found the front door unlocked.””
I stared at the phone.
“Daniel's house?””
“Yes.””
“Was anyone inside?””
“No one was located during the initial safety check.””
“What about the office?””
“They haven't completed the search.””
I looked at Laura.
“Daniel's safe.””
Marcus continued.
“There's something else. A neighbor reported seeing a second vehicle leaving the property shortly before six.””
“What kind of vehicle?””
“Black SUV. No visible front plate in the neighbor's description.””
I closed my eyes.
“Do we know who was driving?””
“Not yet.””
I ended the call and looked at Emma.
“Did Daniel have a black SUV?””
She shook her head.
“Robert does.””
Laura immediately called Marcus back.
I stepped closer to Emma.
“Did you ever see Robert driving Daniel's car?””
“Once.””
“When?””
“About a month ago. He came over while Daniel was at work.””
“Why?””
Emma hesitated.
“He said he needed to discuss something about Daniel's business.””
“What business?””
“Mercer Property Group.””
I remembered Daniel mentioning his company at family dinners. He owned several rental properties and managed renovations across the county.
“What did Robert want?””
Emma looked uncomfortable.
“I don't know. They went into Daniel's office and closed the door.””
“Did you hear anything?””
“Only one thing.””
“What?””
She closed her eyes.
“Robert said, 'The money has already been moved. You need to stop worrying.''”
Laura stopped writing.
“Money?””
Emma nodded.
“I thought it was something about Daniel's business.””
I looked at Laura.
That was another thread we needed to investigate.
At 7:16 a.m., Marcus arrived at the hospital with Detective Collins.
He looked exhausted.
“Claire, I need to tell you something.””
“What?””
“The safe was opened before the search team arrived.””
I felt my stomach tighten.
“Was it empty?””
“Not completely.””
“What was inside?””
“Several documents, some cash, and a passport.””
“Whose passport?””
Marcus looked at Emma.
“Yours.””
Emma went completely still.
“My passport?””
He nodded.
“It was inside Daniel's office safe.””
“But I thought it was in my dresser.””
“Apparently not.””
Emma began crying.
“He took it.””
I reached for her hand.
“It's okay. You're not going anywhere with him.””
Marcus continued.
“The notebook you described wasn't there. Neither was the phone.””
Laura frowned.
“So someone removed them.””
“Possibly. We're reviewing the timeline.””
I stared at Marcus.
“Do you believe Hayes returned to the house to take them?””
“I believe we need evidence before drawing that conclusion.””
I understood.
But I was beginning to see the shape of something much bigger than one violent husband.
Daniel had known about the divorce.
He had arranged an international trip.
He had taken Emma's passport.
He had access to a police supervisor who appeared to be helping him.
And now the most important evidence had disappeared.
At 7:23 a.m., Laura's phone rang.
She listened, then slowly looked at me.
“What happened?”” I asked.
She ended the call.
“The search team found something in the garage.””
“What?””
“A small locked storage cabinet behind Daniel's workbench.””
“What's inside?””
“Documents.””
“Which documents?””
Laura looked at Marcus.
Then back at me.
“Financial transfers, photographs, and a handwritten list of names.””
My pulse quickened.
“Emma's name?””
Laura nodded.
“Your name too.””
I felt the room become unbearably quiet.
“What does it say beside mine?””
Laura hesitated.
Then she handed me a photograph of the list.
My name appeared halfway down the page.
Beside it were three handwritten words.
*Sister. Police officer. Problem.*
But that wasn't what frightened me most.
At the bottom of the page, beneath a series of dates and initials, was another name.
*Robert Hayes.*
And beside his name was a payment amount.
$75,000.
I stared at the number.
Then my phone vibrated again.
A new message appeared.
This time, it came from a number I recognized.
Robert Hayes.
"Claire, before you destroy your career, you need to know what your sister did to Daniel.""
I looked at Emma.
She was already staring at my screen.
May you like
And then she whispered:
“Claire… don't believe anything he tells you. Daniel has been keeping a secret about our family for years.””
