Chapter 10 - THE BOY KNEW THE WAY HOMEDaniel ignored the order.
He called backup through a secure emergency channel.
No response.
He tried again.
Nothing.
Elena watched him.
“They've isolated you.”
“Then I'll go through them.”
They escaped the facility through an underground drainage tunnel.
At dawn, Daniel reached a safe location and finally contacted a state investigator he trusted.
Within forty minutes, a tactical team arrived.
But the building was empty.
No cameras.
No evidence.
No Voss.
No Aaron.
No Eli.
It was as if the place had never existed.
Then Daniel received a call.
The voice was Lena.
“Daniel, listen carefully.”
“Where are you?”
“I can't say.”
“Are you working for Voss?”
Silence.
“No.”
“You were seen handing him evidence.”
“I was feeding him false information.”
Daniel stopped.
“What?”
“I knew someone inside the department was leaking everything.”
“Who?”
“I didn't know.”
“Then why didn't you tell me?”
“Because I didn't know who I could trust.”
Daniel's anger faded.
“What do you know now?”
“I know where Aaron is.”
“Where?”
“Highway 17.”
Daniel closed his eyes.
“That's where we found Eli.”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“He's waiting for you there.”
When Daniel arrived, the highway was nearly empty.
Rain fell steadily.
His headlights cut through the fog.
There was no Aaron.
No Voss.
Then he saw something on the shoulder.
A tiny red toy car.
Daniel stepped out.
His radio crackled.
“Officer Cross.”
He turned.
A speaker had been hidden inside the car.
“You wanted the truth.”
Daniel drew his weapon.
“Show yourself.”
“Look across the road.”
Daniel turned.
A little boy stood beside the barrier.
Eli.
Alone.
Daniel started toward him.
“Eli!”
The child ran.
Daniel caught him.
Eli buried his face against Daniel's chest.
“I knew you'd come.”
Daniel held him tightly.
“Where were you?”
Eli pointed toward the woods.
“They said Mom was there.”
Elena stepped out from behind the trees.
Daniel looked at her.
“What happened?”
She shook her head.
“I found him before they moved him.”
Then Eli whispered:
“Daddy is in the car.”
Daniel turned.
A black SUV sat on the opposite side of the road.
The passenger door opened.
Aaron Mercer stepped out.
His face was bruised.
His hands were bound.
“Don't shoot,” he shouted.
Then another voice came from inside the vehicle.
Calm.
Cold.
“You have ten seconds.”
Daniel saw the driver.
May you like
Adrian Voss.
He was holding a detonator.
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