Chapter 18: The Man Who Was Supposed to Be Missing
The radio transmission repeated.
Deputy Nathan Briggs had helped Thomas Lawson escape.
For several seconds, nobody moved.
Then Travis spoke.
"Briggs was supposed to be missing.""
Rebecca grabbed the radio.
"Confirm that identification.""
"Confirmed. Two officers saw him remove the restraints and unlock the rear door. He escaped with Lawson.""
"Where are they now?""
"Unknown. We're tracking the transport vehicle.""
Rebecca turned toward Peter.
"Do you know Briggs?""
Peter nodded.
"He was one of Wade's deputies.""
"Was he involved in your disappearance?""
Peter hesitated.
"Yes.""
Travis stepped forward.
"Then why would he help you?""
Peter looked at him.
"Because he was there when your father died.""
Travis felt his chest tighten.
"What?""
"Briggs drove the vehicle. Wade was in the passenger seat. Thomas gave the order.""
Rebecca stared at Peter.
"You knew this all along?""
"I suspected it. I never had proof.""
"Emily identified Briggs as one of the men in the woods.""
Peter nodded slowly.
"Then she saw more than I realized.""
Travis clenched his fists.
"Why would Briggs help Thomas escape?""
Peter looked toward the basement stairs.
"Because Thomas knows what happened to his sister.""
Rebecca frowned.
"His sister?""
Peter nodded.
"Briggs's younger sister was involved in a search operation years ago. She disappeared after she discovered the emergency contracts were being used to fund illegal shipments.""
Travis stared.
"Another missing person?""
"Not missing," Peter replied.
"Silenced.""
Back at the clinic, Emily sat beside Rex.
The dog was sleeping.
His breathing was steady, but his leg remained bandaged.
She gently stroked his head.
"You don't have to save everybody, Rex.""
His ear twitched.
She smiled faintly.
"You're allowed to rest.""
Dr. Harris entered with a medical tray.
"How is he?""
"Better.""
"Good. He'll need another day before we consider moving him.""
Emily nodded.
Then she noticed a small envelope on the counter.
"What's that?""
Dr. Harris turned.
"I found it near the reception desk.""
The envelope had Emily's name written on it.
She opened it.
Inside was a photograph of a young woman.
The woman stood beside a river, smiling at the camera.
Emily recognized her immediately.
Nathan Briggs's sister.
She turned the photograph over.
A message had been written on the back.
She knows what happened to Peter. Find her before Thomas does.
Emily looked at Dr. Harris.
"Who left this?""
"I don't know.""
Emily reached for her phone.
She called Travis.
He answered immediately.
"Emily?""
"I found something.""
"What?""
"A photograph. It's Briggs's sister.""
Travis went quiet.
"Where did you get it?""
"Someone left it at the clinic.""
"Don't touch anything else. We're sending someone.""
Emily looked at the photograph again.
"Travis, there's something written on the back.""
"What?""
"Find her before Thomas does.""
Travis exhaled.
"Stay with Dr. Harris.""
Emily hesitated.
"Travis?""
"Yeah?""
"I think Rex knows her.""
He frowned.
"What makes you say that?""
Emily pointed toward the dog.
Rex had awakened.
He was staring at the photograph.
His ears were raised.
He let out a low whine.
Then he stood.
The state investigators returned to the clinic an hour later.
Rebecca examined the photograph.
"What's her name?""
Michael searched the personnel database.
"Sarah Briggs. Twenty-eight years old. Former county emergency dispatcher.""
"Where did she work?""
"County dispatch. She resigned four years ago.""
Travis frowned.
"Was she connected to the search operation?""
Michael nodded.
"She handled the night shift when Emily disappeared.""
Rebecca looked at Emily.
"Did you ever see her?""
Emily studied the photograph.
"I remember her voice.""
"Her voice?""
"At the old search station. She was talking to someone on the radio.""
Emily closed her eyes.
A memory surfaced.
Snow falling.
A flashlight moving through trees.
A woman's voice saying:
Don't let them take the girl.
Emily opened her eyes.
"She was trying to help me.""
Peter, who had been sitting quietly in the corner, suddenly looked up.
"Sarah?""
Rebecca turned.
"You know her?""
Peter nodded.
"She helped me escape from the medical facility.""
The room went silent.
Travis stepped closer.
"Then why didn't you bring her with you?""
Peter looked down.
"Because she stayed behind to protect someone.""
"Who?""
Peter looked at Emily.
"Your father.""
Travis's face tightened.
"My father is dead.""
Peter nodded.
"I know.""
"Then what are you saying?""
Peter took a slow breath.
"Sarah was the last person to speak with Jonathan before he died. She had a recording of the conversation.""
Rebecca leaned forward.
"Where is it?""
"She hid it.""
"Where?""
Peter looked toward Rex.
"With the dog.""
Darnell stepped closer.
"What do you mean?""
Peter pointed to the collar.
"Jonathan gave Rex something that night. A small metal capsule. He told Sarah to make sure nobody removed it.""
Darnell knelt beside the old dog.
"We've checked his collar.""
"Not the outer lining," Peter replied.
"Inside the buckle.""
Darnell carefully examined it.
There was a small metal piece embedded beneath the leather.
He removed it with a narrow tool.
A tiny capsule fell into his palm.
Travis stared.
"Open it.""
Darnell unscrewed the cap.
Inside was a microSD card wrapped in plastic.
Michael immediately reached for an evidence bag.
Rebecca looked at Peter.
"What's on it?""
Peter's voice lowered.
"The truth about Jonathan's death.""
They transferred the card to a secure state police computer.
Michael opened the only audio file.
Static filled the room.
Then a man's voice emerged.
Jonathan Cole.
Travis recognized it immediately.
"That's my dad.""
The recording began with the sound of a door closing.
Then Jonathan spoke.
"Thomas, this ends tonight.""
Another voice answered.
Thomas Lawson.
"You don't get to decide that.""
"I have the ledger.""
"Then give it to me.""
"No.""
A chair scraped.
Thomas's voice grew sharper.
"You signed the contracts, Jonathan. You accepted the payments.""
"I didn't know what you were doing.""
"You knew enough.""
"I found the transfers. I know where the money went.""
"Then you know what happens if this gets out.""
A long silence followed.
Then Jonathan spoke.
"I've already sent copies to Peter.""
Travis covered his mouth.
On the recording, Thomas laughed.
"You think Peter can save you?""
"I think the truth will.""
A third voice entered.
Wade Mercer.
"Thomas, we're running out of time.""
Thomas replied:
"Take him.""
There was a struggle.
Jonathan shouted.
Then a loud impact.
The recording continued.
A door opened.
Someone spoke quietly.
"He's still breathing.""
Wade answered.
"Not for long.""
Travis stood frozen.
Rebecca stopped the recording.
"That's enough.""
But Peter shook his head.
"Keep listening.""
Michael resumed playback.
A fourth voice emerged.
It was younger.
Frightened.
"Please. Don't hurt him.""
Everyone looked at each other.
The voice belonged to Nathan Briggs.
Thomas answered:
"Then do what you're told.""
The recording ended with a final sentence from Jonathan.
"Travis, if you ever hear this, remember that I loved you.""
Travis turned away.
His shoulders shook.
Darnell stepped beside him but said nothing.
Rebecca closed her eyes.
The evidence was undeniable.
Thomas had ordered Jonathan's death.
Wade had carried it out.
And Briggs had witnessed everything.
A state trooper entered the room.
"Agent Lawson, we found Sarah Briggs.""
Rebecca stood.
"Where?""
"At a motel outside Jackson.""
"Is she safe?""
The trooper hesitated.
"She's alive. But she refuses to speak.""
"Why?""
"She says she'll only talk to one person.""
"Who?""
The trooper looked toward Travis.
"Emily Cole.""
Emily stared.
"Me?""
He nodded.
"She specifically asked for you.""
Travis stepped forward.
"That's impossible. Emily barely knows her.""
Peter shook his head.
"Sarah was the woman who tried to guide Emily through the woods that night.""
Emily looked at the photograph.
The memory became clearer.
A woman crouching behind a tree.
A flashlight.
A hand reaching toward her.
And a voice whispering:
Follow the dog. Don't look back.
Emily's eyes filled.
"She saved me.""
Rebecca nodded.
"Then we need to hear what she has to say.""
The motel room smelled of stale coffee and cigarette smoke.
Sarah Briggs sat on the edge of the bed.
She looked exhausted.
Her hands trembled.
When Emily entered, Sarah immediately stood.
"Emily.""
Emily stopped.
"You remember me?""
Sarah nodded.
"I never forgot you.""
Emily looked at her.
"Why did you help me?""
Sarah's eyes filled.
"Because I heard what Wade was planning to do.""
"What was he planning?""
Sarah looked toward Rebecca.
"I can't tell you everything here.""
Rebecca placed a recorder on the table.
"You're under state protection. You can speak freely.""
Sarah shook her head.
"Not until I know Nathan is safe.""
Emily frowned.
"Your brother?""
Sarah nodded.
"Thomas has been using him for years. He told Nathan that if he ever spoke, he would reveal what happened to our mother.""
Travis stepped forward.
"What happened to her?""
Sarah looked at him.
"She died in a fire at the old county records building.""
Rebecca's expression hardened.
"That fire was ruled accidental.""
"It wasn't.""
Sarah reached into her bag.
She pulled out a folded document.
"This is the original incident report. Thomas ordered the fire because my mother had copies of the emergency contracts.""
Rebecca examined it.
"Who signed the order?""
Sarah's voice broke.
"Franklin Pierce.""
Travis looked at her.
"Franklin?""
Sarah nodded.
"And he wasn't acting alone.""
She reached into the bag again.
This time, she produced a photograph.
It showed Franklin Pierce standing beside a man in a dark suit.
The man's face was partially turned away.
Rebecca recognized him immediately.
She had seen him at the county fundraiser.
She had seen him in the bank records.
And she had seen his signature on the original contracts.
It was *the Mississippi state attorney general*.
Sarah looked at Rebecca.
"Thomas didn't build this operation by himself.""
She lowered her voice.
"He had someone protecting him at the highest level.""
Rebecca stared at the photograph.
Then her phone rang.
An unknown number.
She answered.
A man's voice spoke calmly.
"Agent Lawson, this is Attorney General Richard Voss.""
Rebecca's blood ran cold.
"I know who you are.""
"Then you know I can end your investigation.""
Rebecca looked at Sarah.
Voss continued.
"Release Thomas Lawson and surrender the evidence.""
"And if I refuse?""
A pause.
"Then I will have every person in that room arrested.""
The call ended.
Rebecca lowered the phone.
Michael looked at her.
"What did he say?""
Rebecca glanced at the evidence on the table.
Then at Emily.
Then at Travis.
"He just declared war on us.""
Outside the motel, a black SUV pulled into the parking lot.
Its headlights went dark.
And in the back seat, Nathan Briggs was tied up, bleeding, and struggling to reach the window.
He had escaped from Thomas.
But he hadn't come alone.
He had brought someone with him.
May you like
Someone who knew exactly where Peter Lawson was being kept.
And someone who had been missing for twenty-three years.
