Chapter 8 - The Second House
Police reached Harper's house before I did.
The back door stood open.
Harper was missing.
On the kitchen counter sat her phone.
Beside it was a photograph of Violet as a baby.
Written across the back:
BRING ME THE DRIVE.
I stared at the message.
Victor wanted the original evidence.
He didn't know federal investigators had copied it.
That gave us leverage.
Ortiz wanted to handle the exchange.
I agreed.
Not because I trusted Victor.
Because I trusted Ortiz.
We created a duplicate drive.
A tracker went inside its casing.
Then Victor sent instructions.
An abandoned recreation center outside town.
Midnight.
Come alone.
I didn't.
Not really.
Federal agents surrounded the location beyond Victor's sight.
I entered carrying the drive.
The building smelled of dust and old chlorine.
A basketball hoop hung crooked above the court.
Victor Hale stepped from the shadows.
Caleb stood beside him.
Harper sat behind them.
Alive.
Victor smiled.
“So you're the Ranger.”
I didn't answer.
“You've caused me trouble.”
“No. Violet did.”
His smile disappeared.
“Your daughter should have stayed out of adult business.”
“My daughter exposed you.”
Caleb shifted nervously.
For the first time, he didn't look dangerous.
He looked seventeen.
Afraid.
Manipulated.
Victor demanded the drive.
I held it up.
“Harper first.”
He laughed.
Then another voice came from behind him.
“No, Victor.”
Rachel stepped through a side door.
Victor spun.
“You.”
Rachel held up her phone.
“You're finished.”
Sirens erupted outside.
Victor looked at Caleb.
“Do it.”
Caleb froze.
“Dad—”
“Do it!”
Caleb looked toward Harper.
Then toward me.
His entire body shook.
And he made the first decent decision of his life.
He stepped away from his father.
“No.”
Victor's face changed.
For the first time, the man who had controlled everyone around him discovered that fear had limits.
Federal agents entered.
Victor ran.
He didn't get far.
Within minutes, he was in custody.
Harper was safe.
Caleb surrendered.
Rachel collapsed into tears.
It should have ended there.
But it didn't.
May you like
Because when Ortiz searched Victor's vehicle, she found a ledger.
And on the final page was my name.
