Chapter 16 - The Light Behind the Desk
"Stay outside," Daniel told Cal. "Call the police. Don't go in."
He drove toward the shop with Nina on the phone, then pulled over when Officer Malloy called to say a patrol car was already there. Two men had fled through the rear loading door. One was stopped a block away: Tucker Beck. The other had escaped in a dark SUV.
Drawers stood open, estimates covered the floor, and the tax-record cabinet had been forced. Somebody knew exactly where to look.
Cal pointed to a little security camera above the paint shelves. "They missed the backup feed. I installed it after that copper theft last winter."
The recording showed Tucker carrying a tool bag and Silas checking the filing cabinet. Silas removed a small external drive from a drawer and put it in his pocket. He also photographed a stack of bank statements before the two men heard the alarm.
"Why would he want our records if he already had copies?" Cal asked.
"Maybe he wanted to know what we could prove," Nina said.
Officers documented the damage and collected the footage. Daniel went home with sawdust on his sleeves and a sick feeling in his stomach. He had thought the worst part would be finding out Harper lied. Now he understood what it felt like to watch adults turn a frightened six-year-old into an obstacle.
Rosa met him at the front door. "She's asleep. I told her you were checking on work."
Daniel looked into the guest room. Lucía's calendar was beside the bed, all eleven black dots still there. He sat carefully on the floor and stayed until her breathing settled.
May you like
At sunrise Nina called. Tucker had agreed to speak through his attorney. He said Silas had paid him to impersonate Cal, leave the note, and photograph the family.
And he said the forged guarantee was only the first document Silas had prepared.
