Chapter 12: The Man Who Signed Away His Daughter
"Daniel.""
Boone didn't turn around.
He kept his eyes on Ryan.
"Put the gun down.""
Daniel's hand trembled.
"I'm sorry.""
Michael stared at him.
"Not again.""
Daniel's face was covered in tears.
"Ryan said he'd tell me where Laura is.""
Boone's voice remained calm.
"And you believed him?""
"I have to.""
Ryan smiled.
"See? Daniel understands how this works.""
Duke slowly moved toward the side of the classroom.
Ryan noticed.
"Don't.""
He raised the remote.
"One wrong move, and everyone in this building has a very bad night.""
Harris kept his weapon trained on Ryan.
"What does that remote control?""
Ryan shrugged.
"Something you don't want to find out.""
Boone studied the device.
There was a small red light blinking near the top.
He looked at the school's ceiling.
Then toward the hallway.
"You're bluffing.""
Ryan smiled.
"Am I?""
Michael stepped forward.
"Where is Laura?""
Ryan's expression changed.
"Your wife is alive.""
Michael's eyes filled.
"Where?""
"Somewhere safe.""
"You've been holding her?""
Ryan laughed.
"Your wife was never very good at following instructions.""
Daniel lowered his weapon slightly.
"Ryan, you promised me.""
Ryan turned toward him.
"I promised you what?""
"You said you'd bring Laura back if I helped.""
Ryan's smile disappeared.
"Daniel, you signed those papers. You gave us the child. You helped us move Michael. You watched while Laura became a problem.""
Daniel's eyes filled.
"I was trying to save my family.""
"You were trying to save yourself.""
Sophie stepped out from behind Michael.
"Why did you take me?""
Ryan looked at her.
"Because you were valuable.""
"Am I money?""
Ryan didn't answer.
"Am I a secret?""
His expression hardened.
"Go stand with your father.""
Sophie looked at Michael.
Then she did something nobody expected.
She walked toward Daniel.
The man holding the gun began crying.
"Sophie, sweetheart...""
She stopped several feet away.
"Did you love me?""
Daniel lowered the weapon.
"More than anything.""
"Then why did you let Uncle Ryan take me?""
Daniel's face crumpled.
"Because I was a coward.""
Sophie looked at him for a long moment.
Then she said:
"Mommy told me being scared isn't an excuse to hurt people.""
Daniel closed his eyes.
The pistol slipped from his hand.
It hit the floor.
Duke immediately kicked it away.
Harris moved toward Daniel and secured his wrists.
Ryan watched the scene.
Then he pressed the remote.
A loud alarm began ringing somewhere beneath the building.
Harris shouted.
"Get the children out!""
Boone grabbed Sophie.
Michael lifted Noah.
Duke carried Emma.
Tyler ran toward the rear exit.
Ryan disappeared into the darkness.
Boone reached the parking lot and handed Sophie to Evelyn.
"Stay with her!""
Then he turned.
"Where's Ryan?""
Harris pointed toward the old playground.
"Back there!""
Boone and Duke ran around the building.
They found Ryan beside a black SUV.
He was trying to start the engine.
Boone reached the driver's door and grabbed it.
Ryan swung a metal flashlight at his head.
Boone ducked.
The flashlight struck the window.
Duke pulled Ryan out of the vehicle.
They struggled on the gravel.
Ryan drove an elbow into Duke's ribs.
Duke stumbled.
Ryan reached for something inside his jacket.
Boone caught his wrist.
A small knife fell into the dirt.
"You're out of options," Boone growled.
Ryan spat blood.
"You think this ends with me?""
Boone pushed him against the SUV.
"No. I think it starts with you.""
Harris arrived with two officers.
They handcuffed Ryan.
As they searched him, one officer found a second phone.
It was already recording.
Harris pressed the screen.
A woman's voice came through.
Laura.
"Ryan, please. I know where the files are. I'll give you everything. Just tell me where Sophie is.""
Ryan's recorded voice answered.
"You're too late.""
Then another voice spoke.
A man's voice.
Older.
Calm.
Robert Collins.
"Get rid of her. This time, make sure there's no mistake.""
Harris stopped the recording.
Boone stared at the phone.
"That's enough to bury them both.""
Ryan laughed.
"You still don't understand.""
Harris looked at him.
"What's that supposed to mean?""
Ryan tilted his head.
"Collins isn't the man in charge.""
Duke stepped closer.
"Who is?""
Ryan looked toward the school.
Then toward Sophie.
"The woman who signed the original placement papers.""
Boone frowned.
"What woman?""
Ryan smiled.
"Laura Reeves.""
Michael, who had just reached the playground, stopped walking.
"That's a lie.""
Ryan shrugged.
"Ask her.""
Michael grabbed Ryan's jacket.
"Where is my wife?""
Ryan leaned closer.
"She's been working with us from the beginning.""
Michael punched him.
Harris pulled Michael away.
"That's enough!""
Michael struggled.
"You're lying!""
Ryan wiped blood from his mouth.
"Am I?""
He looked directly at Sophie.
"Your mother didn't just know about the children, sweetheart.""
He paused.
"She chose which families got them.""
Sophie began crying.
Michael turned toward Boone.
"Don't listen to him.""
Boone studied Ryan.
"Then why did you say it?""
Ryan's smile widened.
"Because tomorrow morning, Laura is going to walk into a courtroom and testify against every one of you.""
Harris frowned.
"What courtroom?""
Ryan looked at his watch.
"She has a hearing scheduled for nine.""
Boone glanced toward the road.
"That's impossible. She's supposed to be missing.""
Ryan nodded.
"Exactly.""
Then he looked at Michael.
"And there's one more thing.""
Michael's face went pale.
"What?""
Ryan leaned forward.
"Laura isn't coming alone.""
He smiled.
"She's bringing the child she kept hidden from you.""
Michael stared at him.
"What child?""
Ryan's answer came quietly.
"Your daughter.""
Sophie looked up.
"But I'm his daughter.""
Ryan shook his head.
"You're not the only one.""
Then he turned toward Boone.
May you like
"Congratulations, biker. You just rescued the wrong child.""
<text color="secondary" size="sm">End of Chapter 12.</text>
