Chapter 6: The Name on the Death Certificate
Michael Reeves was alive.
But he looked like a man who had spent six months waiting to die.
The paramedics arrived within minutes.
They placed him on a stretcher and began checking his injuries.
Sophie refused to release his hand.
"Are you really my daddy?""
Michael struggled to smile.
"Every day, sweetheart.""
"Mommy said you didn't leave.""
His eyes filled.
"Your mommy was right.""
Sophie leaned forward and kissed his cheek.
"Where were you?""
Michael closed his eyes.
"Somewhere I couldn't come home.""
Evelyn stood beside the stretcher.
"Michael, I'm sorry.""
He looked at her.
"For what?""
"For believing Daniel.""
Michael gently shook his head.
"You didn't know.""
"But I should have.""
Daniel stood several feet away, handcuffed between two deputies.
He looked at Michael.
"I thought you were dead.""
Michael's expression hardened.
"You knew I wasn't.""
Daniel lowered his head.
"I didn't know where Ryan took you.""
"You signed the papers.""
Daniel looked up.
"What papers?""
Michael laughed bitterly.
"The transfer documents. The ones that made it look like I voluntarily surrendered my parental rights.""
Evelyn turned toward her son.
"Is that true?""
Daniel didn't answer.
Michael continued.
"You told the court I abandoned Laura and Sophie. You provided statements. You gave Ryan access to the family records.""
Daniel's voice cracked.
"He said he could make everything disappear.""
"And you believed him?""
"I was scared.""
Michael looked at Sophie.
"So was Laura.""
Daniel began crying again.
A deputy approached Harris.
"Sir, we've found something in the farmhouse.""
"What?""
"A locked office. There are computers, file cabinets, and several boxes of documents.""
Harris looked at Michael.
"Can you tell us what we're looking for?""
Michael nodded weakly.
"Blue folders. Each one has a child's name.""
"How many?""
"At least seventeen.""
Boone's face darkened.
"Seventeen children?""
Michael swallowed.
"Seventeen that I know about.""
Harris immediately called for investigators.
Then Michael grabbed his arm.
"There's something else.""
"What?""
"Laura had the original records.""
"Where?""
Michael looked toward Sophie.
"She gave them to our daughter.""
Everyone turned.
Sophie frowned.
"Mommy gave me something?""
Michael nodded.
"She told me she was going to hide it somewhere Ryan would never think to look.""
Boone glanced at the pink backpack.
"Inside there?""
Sophie shook her head.
"No.""
She reached into her pocket and removed a small plastic bracelet.
It was pink, with a silver heart charm.
"Mommy gave me this on my birthday.""
Michael stared at it.
His breathing became uneven.
"That's it.""
Evelyn leaned closer.
"What is?""
Michael pointed to the charm.
"Open it.""
Sophie twisted the little heart.
Nothing happened.
Then Boone noticed a tiny seam along the edge.
He carefully pressed it.
The charm opened.
Inside was a small memory card wrapped in a piece of silver foil.
Harris immediately took it.
"Don't touch that with your bare hands.""
Michael looked relieved.
"That's the original copy.""
Boone frowned.
"Original copy of what?""
"Everything.""
Michael explained that Laura had discovered a network of illegal child placements while helping Ryan with paperwork for his agency.
At first, she believed it was simply financial fraud.
Then she found birth certificates with inconsistent information, forged consent forms, and records showing children transferred between families without proper authorization.
When she confronted Ryan, he threatened her.
She went to Daniel.
Instead of helping her, Daniel told Ryan everything.
A week later, Michael disappeared.
Months afterward, Laura died.
"She knew they were watching her," Michael said.
"That's why she made copies.""
Harris studied the memory card.
"Who else knows about this?""
Michael looked toward the farmhouse.
"Ryan.""
Boone shook his head.
"Ryan already knows. He came to the diner shooting.""
Michael gripped his hand.
"No. I mean the person above him.""
Before Boone could ask another question, a deputy hurried toward them.
"Deputy Harris!""
"What?""
"We found a vehicle behind the barn.""
"What kind?""
"A white sedan.""
Harris frowned.
"Registered to whom?""
The deputy checked his notes.
"Laura Reeves.""
Evelyn gasped.
"That's impossible. Her car was destroyed in the accident.""
The deputy shook his head.
"This isn't the wrecked vehicle. It's another car registered in her name.""
Michael closed his eyes.
"She came here.""
"When?"" Boone asked.
"Before she died.""
"Why?""
Michael looked toward Sophie.
"She was trying to find me.""
Harris turned toward the deputy.
"Search the vehicle.""
A few minutes later, the deputy returned holding a small evidence bag.
Inside was a photograph.
It showed Laura standing beside Ryan Carter.
But she wasn't looking at the camera.
She was looking at someone standing just outside the frame.
The deputy flipped the photograph over.
There was a handwritten message:
If I don't make it out, ask Sheriff Collins why the accident report was changed.
Harris stopped breathing.
Boone noticed immediately.
"What's wrong?""
Harris stared at the photograph.
"Collins was the sheriff who signed the original accident report.""
Michael slowly lifted his head.
"He's not the only one.""
Daniel stepped forward.
"Ryan told me Collins was handling everything.""
Harris turned toward him.
"Handling what?""
Daniel looked sick.
"The investigation. The evidence. The death certificate.""
Boone stared at the deputy.
"You're telling me the sheriff might be involved?""
Harris didn't answer.
His radio crackled.
"Deputy Harris, respond.""
He picked it up.
"Go ahead.""
A familiar voice came through.
Calm.
Authoritative.
"Where are you?""
Harris straightened.
"At the Carter property, sir.""
"Have you secured the child?""
"Yes.""
"Good. Bring her to the station immediately.""
Harris looked at Sophie.
"Why?""
The voice on the radio became colder.
"Because this investigation is now under my authority.""
Boone stepped closer.
"Who is that?""
Harris lowered the radio.
His face had gone pale.
"Sheriff Collins.""
Michael began struggling against the paramedics.
"No. No, no...""
Boone looked at him.
"What?""
Michael pointed toward the farmhouse.
"That's not the sheriff.""
Harris frowned.
"What are you talking about?""
Michael's voice trembled.
"I heard that voice every night for six months.""
The radio crackled again.
"Deputy Harris, do you copy?""
Michael grabbed Boone's wrist.
"That's the man who kept me in the barn.""
Harris slowly raised his weapon.
Then the voice spoke again.
"Bring me Sophie Carter.""
A pause.
"And don't let the girl leave the property.""
Boone looked toward the dark road.
Headlights appeared between the trees.
One vehicle.
Then another.
Then a third.
Duke stepped beside him.
"Brother, we've got company.""
Boone looked at Sophie.
The little girl was trembling.
He knelt in front of her.
"Remember what your mommy told you?""
Sophie nodded.
"Never trust Uncle Ryan.""
Boone shook his head gently.
"Not just Ryan.""
He looked toward the approaching vehicles.
"Tonight, we're going to find out who else she was warning you about.""
Then Michael whispered one final sentence.
"Boone, there's something you need to know about Sheriff Collins.""
"What?""
May you like
Michael stared at him.
"He's Sophie's grandfather.""
