Chapter 13 - The Deadline
I called the school before I reached the parking lot.
“This is Lily Bennett’s mother.”
The receptionist sounded nervous.
“Mrs. Bennett, Lily is safe.”
“Do not release her.”
“Her father is listed as an authorized parent.”
“I’m on my way.”
Dad’s driver took us across Dallas while Naomi called an attorney who handled family matters.
Every traffic light felt endless.
Ryan called twice.
I ignored him.
Then Lily called from the school office.
“Mom?”
“I’m coming.”
“Dad says you’re sick.”
My entire body went cold.
“What?”
“He said Grandpa made you confused.”
I closed my eyes.
The therapist declaration.
The contingency plan.
Ryan was already building the story.
“Listen to me, Lily.”
“I am not sick.”
“You have done nothing wrong.”
“Stay with your principal until I arrive.”
“Okay.”
Then I heard Ryan in the background.
“Lily, give me the phone.”
The line ended.
I nearly climbed out of the moving car.
Dad took my hand.
“We’ll get there.”
When we arrived, Ryan was in the administrative office with the principal.
He stood when he saw me.
“Finally.”
I ignored him and went to Lily.
She wrapped her arms around me.
Ryan spoke calmly.
“See what Charles is doing?”
I turned.
“What am I doing?”
“You disappeared with our daughter.”
“You threw a plate at me.”
“That was an accident.”
Lily pulled back.
“No, it wasn’t.”
Ryan’s face tightened.
The principal looked uncomfortable.
Naomi entered with another attorney.
Ryan immediately changed his tone.
“I’m her father.”
“No one is denying that,” the attorney said.
“But given last night’s incident and the financial dispute, Lily will remain with her mother while counsel addresses temporary arrangements.”
Ryan laughed.
“You people move fast.”
Naomi answered.
“So do you.”
Ryan looked at me.
“You freeze the sale tomorrow, you destroy everything.”
“Then maybe you shouldn’t have built everything on fraud.”
His expression changed.
For a second, I saw the man who had thrown the plate.
Then he smiled.
“You’re still too late.”
“What does that mean?”
He walked toward the door.
“The buyer moved closing up.”
Naomi stepped after him.
“To when?”
Ryan looked over his shoulder.
“Tonight.”
My watch read 2:41 p.m.
May you like
We no longer had forty-eight hours.
We had less than six.
