Chapter 4 - THE SECOND VICTIMI wanted to scream.
Instead, I stood completely still.
“The person who killed Daniel tried to kill Caleb?”
Amber's eyes filled with tears.
“I don't know if they wanted him dead.”
“He nearly died.”
“I know.”
“You knew someone was dangerous and still took my son to that park.”
“I didn't know.”
“You're lying.”
Amber looked away.
Miller stepped between us.
“Mrs. Carter, you need to tell us everything.”
Amber shook her head.
“I can't.”
“Why?”
“Because if I talk, they'll come after Lily.”
The room went silent.
Miller lowered his voice.
“Who are you afraid of?”
Amber whispered one name.
“Victor Hale.”
I recognized it instantly.
Victor Hale had been Daniel's former business partner.
After Daniel's death, Victor had become the CEO of Carter Logistics.
I remembered him from the funeral.
He'd hugged me too tightly.
He'd told me:
“Daniel would want you protected.”
I suddenly felt nauseated.
Miller asked:
“What did Victor want from Daniel?”
Amber looked at me.
“Your husband discovered that the company was laundering money through shell accounts.”
I stared at her.
“What?”
“Daniel was going to report it.”
“Why didn't he?”
“Because he found out someone inside the company was helping Victor.”
“Who?”
Amber hesitated.
“Daniel thought it was one of his closest friends.”
“Who?”
She closed her eyes.
“David.”
I frowned.
“David Morgan?”
Daniel’s best friend.
The man who had spoken at his funeral.
The man who had helped me with Caleb after Daniel died.
“No.”
Amber nodded.
“That's what Daniel told me.”
I shook my head.
“David would never.”
“That's what he wanted Daniel to believe.”
Miller asked:
“Where is David now?”
I pulled out my phone.
“I'll call him.”
Before I could dial, the hospital lights flickered.
Then went out.
The hallway filled with darkness.
Someone screamed.
A nurse shouted:
“Everyone stay where you are!”
Emergency lights came on.
I ran toward Caleb's room.
The door was open.
His bed was empty.
For one terrible second, I thought he'd been moved.
Then I saw the nurse standing frozen in the doorway.
“He was here.”
“What?”
“Thirty seconds ago.”
Miller pushed past her.
Caleb was gone.
The IV line had been disconnected.
One monitor was still blinking.
I screamed his name.
“CALEB!”
Miller ran down the corridor.
Security guards rushed from the lobby.
I followed.
Near the elevators, a maintenance worker pushed a cart toward the service hallway.
Miller shouted:
“STOP!”
The worker dropped the cart.
He ran.
Security tackled him.
Miller pulled off the man's cap.
I recognized him.
My blood went cold.
It was David Morgan.
Daniel's best friend.
The man I had been about to call.
He looked directly at me.
“Sarah…”
I slapped him.
“Where is my son?”
David's face twisted.
“I didn't hurt him.”
“Then where is he?”
“I was trying to protect him!”
“Protect him from whom?”
David stared at Miller.
Then at me.
“From the people who killed your husband.”
My heart thundered.
Miller grabbed him.
“Where is the child?”
David whispered:
“They took him before I got here.”
“Who?”
David looked terrified.
Then he said:
“Victor Hale.”
The hospital doors suddenly opened.
Three police officers rushed inside.
Behind them was a stretcher.
Caleb was lying on it.
Alive.
Confused.
May you like
And clutching something in his hand.
A small black notebook.
