Chapter 11 - THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT
Daniel was in Grant's cruiser before anyone could argue.
The school was closed for a teacher workday. The parking lot should have been empty.
Owen's black pickup sat crooked near the gym entrance, driver's door open.
No Owen.
No Claire.
Deputies spread out.
"Stay in the car," Grant told Daniel.
He did, for almost thirty seconds.
Then he saw a small blue object on the pavement beside the truck.
Ethan's backpack keychain.
Daniel was out before Grant could stop him.
"Daniel!"
He picked it up.
It was the plastic astronaut Ethan had carried since first grade.
"They've been near him."
Grant took the keychain with a gloved hand. "Or they want you to think they have."
Daniel's stomach turned.
Then a deputy called from the gym.
"Movement inside!"
Everyone ran.
A side door slammed.
Owen burst into the rain and sprinted toward the baseball field.
Grant shouted, "Sheriff's office! Stop!"
He did not.
He vaulted a fence, slipped, recovered, and ran toward the maintenance sheds.
Daniel followed until Grant grabbed his arm.
"You want to help your son? Stay here."
Two deputies caught Owen behind the bleachers.
He fought hard enough to earn another charge.
When they dragged him past, Daniel stepped forward.
"Where is Claire?"
Owen laughed breathlessly.
"You still think Claire's the one running this?"
Daniel stared at him.
"What does that mean?"
Owen's smile disappeared.
"Ask your lawyer who approved the first trust transfer."
Rebecca.
No. Daniel refused the thought before it fully formed.
Owen was shoved into a cruiser.
Then Grant's phone rang.
She listened and looked toward Daniel.
"Rachel says Ethan is missing."
Every sound in the parking lot vanished for him.
"What?"
"Back door alarm tripped three minutes ago. Deputy found the door open."
Daniel looked at Owen through the cruiser window.
Owen smiled again.
This time Daniel understood.
May you like
The truck at the school had been bait.
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