Chapter 13: The Daughter Nobody Knew About
Michael didn't move.
He stood beneath the broken playground lights, staring at Ryan as if the man had just reached into his chest and ripped something out.
"You're lying," Michael whispered.
Ryan smiled.
"That's what you said six months ago when I told you Laura was dead.""
Michael grabbed the front of Ryan's jacket.
"Where is she?""
Harris stepped forward.
"Let him go, Michael.""
Ryan laughed.
"You want to know the best part? Laura knew you were alive the entire time.""
Michael's grip tightened.
"Shut your mouth.""
"She knew exactly where you were. She knew Ryan had you at the farm. She knew everything.""
Michael struck him again.
This time, Harris and another officer pulled Michael away.
"That's enough!""
Ryan wiped blood from his mouth.
"Ask him about the baby.""
Boone stepped between them.
"You're going to tell us what you know.""
Ryan looked at him.
"Why? So you can save another child?""
Boone's expression didn't change.
"Because if you don't, I'll make sure the people who do this for a living hear every word.""
Ryan laughed.
"You think the police can protect you?""
Harris tightened the handcuffs.
"Keep talking. You're adding charges by the minute.""
Ryan finally stopped smiling.
Boone returned to the playground where Sophie sat beside Evelyn.
The little girl was crying quietly.
He crouched in front of her.
"Hey, sweetheart.""
"Is Mommy bad?""
Boone looked at her.
"Why would you ask that?""
"Uncle Ryan said Mommy gave children away.""
Boone took a breath.
"Sometimes grown-ups do things that are difficult to understand. But nobody gets to decide who you are or whether you're loved.""
Sophie looked down.
"What if Mommy doesn't want me anymore?""
Evelyn immediately wrapped her arms around her.
"Oh, baby. No.""
Boone continued gently.
"Your mother spent months trying to find you. That tells me something.""
"What?""
"She didn't stop looking.""
Sophie wiped her cheeks.
"Then why hasn't she come?""
Boone had no answer.
A state investigator arrived twenty minutes later.
Her name was Agent Rebecca Shaw.
She was in her early forties, wore a dark blue jacket, and carried a folder thick enough to hold several years of secrets.
She spoke briefly with Harris before approaching Boone.
"You're Mercer?""
"Yes.""
"I'm taking over the investigation.""
"Good. We need answers.""
She looked toward the school.
"We have a problem.""
Boone folded his arms.
"Another one?""
"Ryan's phone contains a recording of a meeting scheduled for tomorrow morning. It appears to involve Laura Reeves.""
Michael immediately approached.
"Where is she?""
Agent Shaw hesitated.
"We don't know.""
"Then why are you saying she's alive?""
"Because someone used her identification to access a secured government building yesterday.""
Michael shook his head.
"That's not proof.""
"No. But it gives us somewhere to start.""
She opened her folder.
Inside was a photograph of a woman entering a courthouse.
The picture was grainy.
But the woman looked remarkably like Laura.
Evelyn leaned closer.
"That's her.""
Michael stared.
"Where was this taken?""
"At the county courthouse. Yesterday afternoon.""
Boone looked at the photograph.
"Why would she go there?""
Agent Shaw turned another page.
"Because someone filed an emergency custody petition for Sophie.""
Daniel, standing beside two officers, lifted his head.
"What?""
Agent Shaw showed him the document.
The petition requested immediate transfer of Sophie's custody to a private guardian.
The applicant was listed as Laura Reeves.
Michael stared at the signature.
It looked genuine.
But there was something strange about the filing.
The petition claimed Sophie was an abandoned child.
It also listed Michael Reeves as deceased.
Boone shook his head.
"Who approved it?""
"The hearing is scheduled for nine tomorrow morning.""
"Who is the judge?""
Agent Shaw looked at the paperwork.
"Judge Thomas Whitmore.""
Harris swore under his breath.
Boone noticed.
"You know him?""
Harris nodded slowly.
"He's Robert Collins's brother-in-law.""
Evelyn sat down.
"You're telling me the entire courthouse is involved?""
Agent Shaw closed the folder.
"Not necessarily. But we can't assume the system will protect this child until we know who has been compromised.""
Michael looked toward Sophie.
"She's not going anywhere.""
Agent Shaw nodded.
"That's why I'm arranging protective custody.""
Sophie immediately grabbed Boone's hand.
"Please don't send me away.""
Boone looked at the agent.
"She stays with her grandmother.""
Agent Shaw considered it.
"We'll need to verify Evelyn's suitability and secure the placement.""
Evelyn nodded.
"I'll answer every question you have.""
Michael stepped forward.
"And I want to see Laura.""
Agent Shaw looked at him.
"First, we need to understand what Ryan meant about another daughter.""
Michael went pale.
"Could it be true?""
Ryan, standing near the police vehicle, began laughing.
Agent Shaw turned.
"What's funny?""
Ryan looked at Michael.
"You really don't remember?""
Michael's face tightened.
"Remember what?""
Ryan smiled.
"Your wife was pregnant before Sophie.""
Michael stared at him.
"No.""
"She lost the baby, remember?""
Michael nodded slowly.
"Yes.""
Ryan leaned closer.
"That's what they told you.""
Michael's knees nearly buckled.
He looked toward Boone.
Then toward Daniel.
Daniel lowered his eyes.
"You knew?"" Michael whispered.
Daniel didn't answer.
Michael grabbed him.
"YOU KNEW?""
The officers intervened.
Daniel began crying.
"Ryan told me the baby had been adopted.""
Michael released him.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Ryan delivered the final blow.
"Her name is Lily.""
He looked toward the school.
"She's been living under a different identity for five years.""
Michael's voice broke.
"Where?""
Ryan smiled.
"With the woman who raised her.""
Agent Shaw stepped forward.
"Who?""
May you like
Ryan looked directly at her.
"Laura Reeves.""
