Chapter 13 - The School Alert
Daniel called the school before he put on shoes.
“Lock the children’s pickup records.”
The secretary heard his voice and did not waste time.
Noah and Emma were home because child services had approved temporary remote schooling.
Rachel apparently did not know.
Or hoped they were back.
The school security log showed someone used Rachel’s old emergency-contact credentials to access pickup details.
It had not.
Daniel’s anger shifted from Rachel to the system.
One open door.
Police issued an alert.
Walter stayed with the kids.
Daniel hated leaving them.
But Detective Harris needed him to identify Rachel’s likely locations.
Her old apartment.
A friend’s home.
Their mother’s grave.
Nothing.
Then Megan remembered Rachel once talked about a cabin after her divorce.
Police checked.
Paid in cash.
Booked under R. Carter.
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
Teams drove there.
The cabin was empty.
Snacks.
Clothes in Noah and Emma’s sizes.
Rachel had prepared to take them.
For Daniel.
He read it under police supervision.
You are going to tell everyone I’m a monster. I’m not. I was trying to give those kids stability you cannot provide. You work. You grieve. You disappear into that company. I was the one raising them.
Daniel stopped.
He worked too much.
Rachel had done pickups.
Meals.
Homework.
The letter continued:
Daniel whispered, “Do not use her name.”
The final line:
By the time you understand, they will already know who their real parent was.
Daniel stared at the sleeping bags.
Purchased that morning.
Twenty-six miles north.
Police pulled surveillance.
Rachel was there.
But not alone.
A man stood beside her.
Thomas Bell.
Despite his cooperation agreement.
Harris swore.
Daniel looked at the timestamp.
May you like
Two hours after Thomas claimed he had no idea where Rachel was.
Thomas had been lying to everyone.
