Chapter 12 - The Missing Car Seat
Emma called David immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Her blood turned cold.
David had stayed at Samuel’s cabin with Leo because the long drive had exhausted him.
Ruiz radioed the county sheriff.
“Send a unit to Pine Hollow. Now.”
Emma was already running for the car.
The drive back felt endless.
Halfway there, David finally called.
Emma answered so fast she nearly dropped the phone.
“David?”
His breathing was hard.
“I’m okay.”
“Leo?”
“He’s with me. We’re at the sheriff’s station.”
Emma sagged against the seat.
“What happened?”
“I went outside because I heard glass break. Someone smashed the rear window of our SUV.”
Samuel leaned forward. “Richard?”
“I didn’t see him. But Leo’s car seat was gone.”
Emma frowned. “Why steal a car seat?”
Evelyn, sitting beside Samuel, whispered, “To make you think he took the child.”
Everyone looked at her.
She stared straight ahead.
“He likes panic. He makes you run where he wants you to run.”
Ruiz asked, “Where would he want Emma to go?”
Evelyn closed her eyes.
“Home.”
“What home?”
“The old house. St. Louis.”
Emma had not stepped inside her childhood home in seven years.
Richard still owned it.
Evelyn’s hands trembled.
“There’s something there he can’t let you find.”
Samuel’s jaw tightened. “What?”
Evelyn looked at him.
“The papers he made me sign after the crash.”
“What papers?”
“I don’t remember all of them.” She pressed her fingers to her temple. “But there was money. Your parents left money for me. Richard said if I signed, Emma would be taken care of.”
Emma stared at her.
Samuel knew exactly what money she meant.
Their parents’ trust.
Worth millions now.
He had been told Evelyn’s share was frozen because she could not be located.
Samuel slowly said, “Richard didn’t just erase you.”
May you like
He looked at Emma.
“He profited from it.”
