Chapter 13 - THE EMPTY BEDROOM
Ethan refused to panic.
He knew panic was exactly what they wanted.
Security locked down the mansion.
Police arrived.
Every exit was sealed.
But Lily was gone.
Vanessa sat on the floor beside the empty bed.
“She was here.”
Ethan knelt beside her.
“We'll find her.”
“How?”
“I don't know yet.”
Marcus entered carrying the note.
“There is something.”
He pointed to a faint mark on the paper.
A symbol.
He recognized it.
“The warehouse.”
“What warehouse?”
“The one where they kept me.”
Ethan stood.
“Take me there.”
Police objected.
But Ethan refused to wait.
They drove through the night.
The warehouse stood abandoned beside a river.
Inside, they found Lily's pink hair ribbon.
Vanessa almost collapsed.
Then they heard a child's voice.
“Dad?”
Ethan froze.
“Lily!”
He ran toward the sound.
A door opened.
Lily stepped out.
She was frightened but unharmed.
Vanessa grabbed her.
“Oh, my God.”
Lily clung to her mother.
“I wasn't alone.”
Ethan looked around.
“Who was with you?”
Lily pointed toward a dark hallway.
“An old lady.”
Vanessa's face changed.
“Evelyn.”
A slow clap echoed.
Evelyn stepped into the light.
She wasn't alone.
Victor stood behind her.
Ethan moved in front of Lily.
“You're finished.”
Evelyn smiled.
“No.”
She raised a phone.
A live video appeared.
Rebecca was sitting in a prison interview room.
But the video was not live.
It was recorded.
Rebecca looked directly into the camera.
“You think you won?”
Ethan stared.
Rebecca continued.
“You don't know what your father left behind.”
Evelyn smiled.
“The real evidence is not in the drive.”
Marcus stepped forward.
“Where is it?”
Evelyn answered,
“With the one person you never suspected.”
She looked at Vanessa.
Vanessa's heart dropped.
“Who?”
May you like
Evelyn smiled.
“Your mother.”
