Chapter 7 - What They Said About Lily
Rosa's phone shook in her hand as she pressed play again.
Nora's voice filled the hospital room.
"The child watches everything."
Grant answered, "Then stop letting her wander around."
"She already asked why Ethan gets sick after I make his drinks."
Then Grant said, "If she becomes a problem, we handle custody after Ethan is declared incompetent."
Ethan's hands curled into fists.
Nora replied, quieter now.
"And if she talks before then?"
A long pause.
Grant's answer was almost too soft to hear.
"Make sure no one believes her."
That was all Lily was.
And two adults had discussed destroying her credibility like she was a bad line in a contract.
"Where is Lily now?" he asked.
Maya answered immediately. "With my sister and two off-duty officers."
"I want another team there."
Detective Chen nodded.
Rosa looked at Ethan. "I should have told you sooner."
"You didn't know."
"I knew Mrs. Mercer scared Lily."
Ethan's voice softened. "So did I. I just kept telling myself they needed time to bond."
His phone buzzed.
A text from an unknown number.
YOU'RE MAKING A FAMILY PROBLEM PUBLIC. STOP BEFORE LILY PAYS FOR IT.
Chen read it over his shoulder.
"Don't respond."
Another message arrived.
A photograph.
Lily getting out of Maya's sister's car that morning.
Taken from across the street.
Ethan was already moving.
"Call the officers."
Maya dialed.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
Then her sister picked up, breathless.
"Maya? Someone cut the power. The alarm went dead."
Ethan grabbed his coat.
A crash sounded through the phone.
Maya's sister screamed.
Then the line disconnected.
Ethan ran for the elevator.
Before the doors closed, a final text appeared on his screen.
It contained only an address.
May you like
And beneath it:
COME ALONE IF YOU WANT YOUR DAUGHTER SAFE.
