Chapter 15 - THE GIRL THEY MEANT
Madison had been a target before the funeral.
That changed the case again.
Ruiz pulled school security footage, traffic cameras, phone records, and every photograph taken outside the Clarke home during the previous month.
They found a gray SUV parked near Madison’s school on four separate afternoons.
Registered to Marla Voss.
Rachel felt rage so clean it almost calmed her.
“She watched my child.”
Ruiz nodded.
“But why?”
Thomas provided the answer. “Madison saw something at my office. Daniel brought her by the day before I collapsed, and she wandered into the records room.”
Madison frowned.
“There was a lady yelling.”
“Marla?” Ruiz asked.
Madison nodded.
“She said Uncle Danny was stupid.”
Daniel, standing near the window, winced.
“What else?”
Madison thought hard.
“She said, ‘After Thomas is gone, we move the accounts.’ Then the police man said, ‘Friday.’”
Ruiz stared at her.
“Mercer?”
Madison nodded again.
Thomas covered his face.
“She heard the plan.”
“And they realized it?” Rachel asked.
“Maybe not then,” Ruiz said. “But Marla could have noticed her leaving.”
At 3:12 a.m., police found Marla’s abandoned car near a marina. Inside were cash, a passport, and blood—but no body.
At sunrise, Thomas was discharged under protective custody and taken with Rachel and Madison to a private residence owned by Lorraine.
Daniel stayed elsewhere.
For the first time in days, the three of them sat at a kitchen table together.
Thomas reached for Madison’s hand.
“You saved me.”
Madison shrugged.
“You were warm.”
He laughed, then winced.
Rachel looked at him.
“You scared ten years off my life.”
“I’m planning to give them back.”
“How?”
“I’ll do dishes.”
“Not enough.”
“Laundry?”
“Keep going.”
Madison giggled.
Then all the lights went out.
Thomas stood too fast and nearly fell.
Rachel grabbed Madison.
A generator should have kicked on.
It didn’t.
From somewhere outside came the sound of glass breaking.
Then a woman’s voice drifted through the dark house.
May you like
“Madison?”
Marla had found them.
