Chapter 16 - The Choice
Police moved everyone within twenty minutes.
Raymond was close.
Too close.
Detective Cole wanted the green ledger secured in evidence.
Ethan agreed immediately.
"Dad said tell the truth."
Mara smiled faintly. "Good choice."
A controlled plan was built around the ledger.
Police announced through a leak that Mara would deliver it to the county prosecutor the next morning.
They expected Raymond to run.
Instead, he went after Amanda.
At 9:40 p.m., a guard at the county detention transport entrance was assaulted. Amanda disappeared during a transfer to a medical appointment.
Security video showed Raymond wearing a maintenance uniform.
Now both of them were fugitives.
Lily heard the news and went quiet.
"Mom left again."
Denise hugged her.
Ethan understood the difference between missing someone and trusting them.
He could do one without the other.
Near midnight, Amanda called Mara.
Her voice shook.
"Raymond thinks Ethan has the only copy of the ledger."
Mara put the call on speaker while police traced it.
"Where are you?"
"I can't say."
"Are you with him?"
Amanda started crying.
"He says if I bring Ethan, he'll let Lily go."
Everyone in the room froze.
Denise turned toward the bedroom.
The window was open.
Lily's bed was empty.
On the pillow lay the stuffed fox Daniel had given her.
Its seam had been ripped open.
Inside was a note in Raymond's handwriting.
ONE CHILD FOR ONE LEDGER.
May you like
Ethan looked at Detective Cole.
"Tell me what to do."
