Chapter 7 - THE CHASEMarcus killed the lights.
“Down.”
Daniel dropped behind the sofa with Emma.
The vehicle outside stopped.
A door opened.
Footsteps approached.
Slow.
Heavy.
Daniel could hear Emma breathing against his chest.
Then—
BANG!
The front window shattered.
Emma screamed.
Marcus fired back.
“Move!”
They ran through the kitchen.
Marcus opened a concealed door behind the pantry.
A narrow tunnel led beneath the cabin.
Daniel couldn't believe his eyes.
“Where does this go?”
“Down the hill.”
They crawled through darkness.
Behind them, men entered the cabin.
Daniel heard shouting.
Then another gunshot.
They emerged near the river.
Rain poured down.
Marcus pointed toward a truck.
“Get in!”
They climbed inside.
Daniel held Emma tightly as Marcus drove.
For twenty minutes, no one spoke.
Then Emma whispered:
“Daddy?”
“Yes?”
“Did those men come because of Mommy?”
Daniel looked at her.
“Yes.”
“Is Mommy dead?”
The question broke him.
He couldn't lie.
“I don't know.”
Emma stared out the window.
“I think she's alive.”
Daniel looked at her.
“Why?”
“Because Mommy promised she'd come back.”
Daniel squeezed her hand.
Children believed promises with a purity adults had forgotten.
Hours later, Marcus stopped at an old motel.
He handed Daniel a key.
“Room 17.”
Daniel frowned.
“What's in there?”
“Answers.”
Inside the room was a suitcase.
Daniel opened it.
Documents.
Photographs.
Bank records.
And one handwritten journal.
Rachel's journal.
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The first sentence made Daniel's blood run cold.
If Daniel is reading this, then I failed to protect our daughter.
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