Chapter 3 - THE MAN IN THE LAST ROWDaniel demanded that Lena turn her phone off.
She refused.
“It's already too late.”
“What does that mean?”
“They can track it.”
“Who?”
“I don't know.”
“You've been receiving these messages for how long?”
“Three months.”
Daniel stared at her.
“And you never went to the police?”
Lena laughed bitterly.
“I did.”
“What happened?”
“They told me I was paranoid.”
Daniel felt anger rising.
“What made you think someone was following you?”
She pulled up another photograph.
It showed a black sedan parked across the street from a small apartment building.
Another photograph.
The same sedan outside a grocery store.
Another.
Outside a hospital.
Another.
Outside her mother's funeral.
Daniel looked closer.
The license plate had been blurred.
But the driver was visible.
An older man.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Daniel's face changed.
He recognized him.
“No.”
“What?”
“That man.”
“Do you know him?”
Daniel swallowed.
“Yes.”
“Who is he?”
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Because the last time he had seen that face was twenty-eight years ago.
At the original police investigation.
Detective Marcus Vale.
He had been the lead investigator assigned to Lily's disappearance.
Vale had told Daniel that his daughter was probably dead.
He had urged him to stop searching.
He had eventually closed the case.
Daniel remembered something else.
Vale had been standing beside Amira Rahman during the final police interview.
At the time, Daniel had assumed they were discussing the case.
Now he wasn't so sure.
The aircraft suddenly shook hard.
Passengers gasped.
The captain's voice came over the intercom.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we're experiencing unexpected turbulence.”
Daniel barely heard him.
Lena leaned toward Daniel.
“Look behind us.”
Daniel turned carefully.
A man sat three rows behind them.
Gray hair.
Dark coat.
Watching.
Daniel recognized him immediately.
Marcus Vale.
Older now.
But unmistakable.
Daniel's throat tightened.
“How could he know you're on this flight?”
Lena whispered.
“I didn't tell anyone.”
Daniel stood.
Vale stood at the same time.
Daniel's blood surged.
“Stay here.”
He walked toward the back.
The man smiled.
“Daniel.”
Daniel stopped.
His voice was quiet.
“You.”
Vale shrugged.
“It's been a long time.”
Daniel grabbed the seat.
“You knew.”
“Knew what?”
“My daughter.”
Vale's smile disappeared.
“You really should sit down.”
“Where is she?”
Vale stared at him.
Then looked toward Lena.
Something almost like regret crossed his face.
“You should never have found her.”
Daniel lunged.
A flight attendant rushed between them.
“Sir!”
Vale stepped back.
Daniel could see fear in his eyes.
Not fear of Daniel.
Fear of someone else.
“Who are you protecting?”
Vale whispered.
“Everyone.”
Then he returned to his seat.
Daniel walked back to Lena.
“What did he say?”
“Nothing.”
She looked frightened.
Daniel sat beside her.
A few seconds later, Vale's phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His face went pale.
Then he stood.
“Daniel.”
Daniel turned.
Vale looked directly at Lena.
“Do you still have the bracelet?”
Lena nodded.
Vale closed his eyes.
“Then they know.”
Daniel's anger sharpened.
“Who?”
Vale leaned closer.
And whispered four words.
“Your daughter was never taken.”
Daniel stared.
“What?”
“She was traded.”
Then Vale walked toward the front of the plane.
Daniel's heart pounded.
Lena looked at him.
“What does that mean?”
Daniel had no answer.
May you like
But before he could respond, every light on the plane went dark.
And in the darkness, someone screamed.
