Chapter 6 - THE COURTHOUSE GARAGE
Police locked down the court.
Hale's car sat empty in the garage.
His suitcases were gone.
Judge Reed was in chambers.
He acted offended.
"This is intimidation."
Emily put the Harbor case files on his desk.
"Where is Dr. Hale?"
"I have no idea."
"His car is downstairs."
"Then ask him."
"We can't find him."
Reed smiled.
"Not my problem."
Emily noticed a second office door.
Locked.
Reed's clerk said it led to records storage.
A warrant opened it.
No Hale.
But his suitcases were there.
Inside:
Cash.
Burner phones.
Blank prescription pads.
And two new passports.
ETHAN BENNETT.
LUCY BENNETT.
Emily went cold.
They were going to change the children's names to match Ryan's real identity.
Then Collins found a shred bin.
One document remained half intact.
TRANSFER AUTHORIZATION - NOAH BENNETT.
Destination:
Riverbend Behavioral Institute.
Emily called Riverbend.
No child named Noah was registered.
Charlotte overheard and shook her head.
"They don't use our real names there."
"What name would Noah use?"
Charlotte closed her eyes.
"Michael."
Emily asked how she knew.
"Ryan gave us new names every time we moved."
Police searched Riverbend's intake records.
MICHAEL BAKER, AGE NINE.
Admitted last night.
Emergency guardian:
Malcolm Reed.
Emily stared at the judge.
"You personally signed yourself as guardian?"
Reed's face finally changed.
Before he could answer, the courthouse fire alarm sounded.
Sprinklers burst.
Smoke filled the hall.
Someone had started a fire in records storage.
Officers evacuated the building.
In the confusion, Judge Reed disappeared.
So did the original Noah transfer file.
But one courthouse camera survived.
It showed Reed entering an underground service tunnel.
Beside him walked Stephen Hale.
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And between them was a small boy in a gray hoodie.
Noah Bennett.
