Chapter 12 - The Leak
I gave Agent Brooks the account number.
I lied about where it came from.
I said it was written on the back of Rachel’s letter.
He accepted the explanation.
Within an hour, analysts confirmed the account contained encrypted transaction records.
Millions of dollars.
Shell companies.
Payoffs.
Names.
One name mattered immediately.
Deputy Chief Robert Landon.
The police official overseeing coordination between local law enforcement and the federal task force.
Brooks ordered the information contained.
Only five people knew.
Thirty-seven minutes later, Ethan received a text.
LANDON IS BURNED.
That proved it.
Someone inside the investigation had informed Vale almost immediately.
Brooks stared at the message.
“We have a leak.”
“Who knew?”
“Me.”
“Two analysts.”
“Ramirez.”
“And Deputy Director Pierce.”
Detective Ramirez had been the first person who treated Lily’s fear seriously.
I did not want to suspect her.
But wanting had nothing to do with reality anymore.
Brooks changed the operation.
No radios.
No local police.
No electronic briefing.
A small federal team would move on the lakeside estate.
Then something unexpected happened.
Lily called from my sister’s house.
“Daddy?”
“I’m here.”
“A man is outside.”
Every muscle in my body locked.
“What man?”
“A police man.”
“Where’s Aunt Megan?”
“Talking to him.”
I called Megan on another phone.
No answer.
I ran toward Brooks.
“My kids.”
Within seconds, agents were moving.
Megan finally answered.
“Daniel?”
“Lock the door.”
“What?”
“Now.”
“The police officer said there’s been an emergency.”
“Do not open it.”
“I already did.”
My heart stopped.
Then I heard Megan scream.
The line went dead.
I do not remember getting into the SUV.
I remember Brooks driving.
I remember gripping the dashboard.
I remember imagining Lily trying to protect Tommy again.
We reached Megan’s house eight minutes later.
The front door stood open.
A patrol car sat outside.
Not a real one.
The license plate was fake.
Inside, Megan was on the kitchen floor.
Conscious.
Bleeding from a cut above her eyebrow.
“Kids.”
I ran past her.
Lily and Tommy were gone.
On the living room wall, someone had written a message.
LEDGER.
MIDNIGHT.
COME ALONE.
Brooks swore.
I stood there staring at the empty space where Tommy’s portable crib had been.
Everything Rachel had feared had finally happened.
May you like
Vale had taken our children.
And suddenly there was nothing he could ask for that I would not be tempted to give him.
