Chapter 10 - THE WOMAN WHO CLEANED EVERYTHING
Detectives found Marissa before sunrise at a motel near Kennedy Airport.
She had cash, a fake passport, and three phones.
She also had a lawyer waiting before police finished the arrest paperwork.
Daniel met Detective Sloan outside the precinct.
"Is she talking?"
"Not yet."
"What about Celia?"
"We can't locate her."
Noah arrived carrying coffee he clearly hadn't touched.
Eli was with Noah's sister.
"I want to know why she took my son."
Sloan's expression hardened. "So do I."
Marissa finally requested a deal at noon.
Daniel watched through one-way glass as she spoke.
"Mrs. Cross paid me to manage incidents," Marissa said. "Staff complaints. Videos. Social posts. People who needed to be discouraged."
"Kidnapping a five-year-old is discouragement?" Sloan asked.
Marissa looked sick. "That wasn't supposed to happen."
"You signed him out of daycare."
"Celia told me there would be a driver waiting. She said the boy would be held for an hour, long enough to get Bennett to delete the records."
Noah slammed his palm against the glass.
Daniel grabbed his shoulder.
"Where is Celia now?" Sloan asked.
"I don't know."
"What happened to Arthur Mercer?"
Marissa's eyes lifted.
She was silent too long.
Then she said, "I wasn't there."
"That's not what I asked."
Marissa stared at the table.
"Celia didn't kill him."
Daniel exhaled.
Then Marissa added, "But she let him die."
The room seemed to shrink.
Sloan leaned forward.
"Explain."
"Arthur collapsed after they argued. He begged her to call for help."
Daniel's stomach turned.
"And?"
Marissa's voice dropped.
"She waited."
"How long?"
"Nine minutes."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Marissa continued.
"And before she called anyone, she took something from his pocket. A flash drive."
Daniel looked at Marcus.
"Where is it?"
May you like
Marissa finally raised her head.
"Vivian has it."
