Chapter 5: The Man Behind the Camera
Ramirez read the message twice, then handed my phone to a second officer without a word.
"Don't respond," she said.
"I wasn't planning to."
"I mean don't respond at all.
Don't turn the phone off, don't block the number.
Leave it exactly as it is." She looked at me steadily.
"This is the first direct contact.
That means they're worried."
"They should be worried," I said.
"You have the drive."
"We don't yet.
It's still in the room." She nodded toward the door.
"Which means someone outside this house knows we haven't moved it.
Someone is watching right now."
I looked at the window.
The curtain was half open.
She crossed the room and closed it.
"Victor Hale is currently in Philadelphia," Ramirez said.
"He has a lawyer and a security team and four years of practice making himself untouchable.
He did not send that text personally." She turned.
"Which means someone local is still active."
"Vanessa."
"Possibly.
Or someone we haven't identified." She picked up her radio.
"I'm requesting additional units.
I need you to take Emma to your brother's house tonight."
"My brother lives forty minutes away."
"I know."
Something in her tone made me stand up.
"You think they'll come here."
"I think they've already been here once tonight," she said.
"And I think whoever sent that message is close enough to know we haven't left yet."
I went to get Emma.
She woke up when I lifted her, blinked at me, and pressed Bunny against my shoulder.
"Are we going somewhere, Daddy?"
"We're going to Uncle Pete's."
She considered this.
"Is the lady coming?"
"No," I said.
"She's not coming."
Emma nodded once, slowly, and closed her eyes again.
I carried her to the car.
Ramirez walked beside me, one hand near her radio.
Two officers I hadn't seen before were positioned at the end of the driveway.
I had just buckled Emma in when Carol Deane's car pulled up to the curb.
She was older than her voice had suggested.
Gray at her temples.
A coat that had been expensive once.
She walked directly to Ramirez and held out a manila envelope.
"Victor's real name," she said.
"His original identity before 2009.
Two of the shell companies are registered under it.
And the name of the attorney who set them up." She looked at me.
"I've been building this for three years.
I just needed the drive."
"Why didn't you go to the FBI directly?" Ramirez asked.
"I did," Carol said flatly.
"Twice.
The first time, the agent I spoke to was on Hale's payroll.
I didn't know that until six months later." She paused.
"The second time, Claire d*ed four days after I made the call."
Nobody spoke.
Emma shifted in her car seat.
Her hand found Bunny's ear in the dark.
Carol looked at my daughter through the window.
"She looks like Claire," she said quietly.
My chest pulled tight.
"I know."
Carol turned back to Ramirez.
"He'll move tonight if he thinks you have the drive.
He's done it before."
"We'll be ready," Ramirez said.
Carol looked at her for a long moment.
Then she looked at me.
"Claire trusted the wrong people twice," she said.
"I hope you do better."
She got back in her car.
I watched her taillights disappear around the corner.
Then my phone buzzed again.
Same unknown number.
May you like
One word this time.
*Last chance.*
