Chapter 5 - The Teddy Bear
Daniel drove home with police protection.
Lily was asleep on the couch.
Her stuffed rabbit was beside her.
Daniel picked it up carefully.
There was nothing unusual.
He examined the seams.
Then he found a tiny zipper beneath the left ear.
Inside was a memory card.
Daniel stared.
“What is this?”
Vanessa's voice echoed in his mind.
The evidence.
He handed it to Detective Miller.
They opened the files.
Bank records.
Audio recordings.
Photographs.
Contracts.
And video.
The first video showed Marcus Vale meeting Daniel's uncle.
The second showed them discussing the missing foundation money.
The third showed Daniel's father confronting them.
Daniel stopped breathing.
His father had known.
He had tried to stop them.
That's why he died.
The official cause had been a heart attack.
The video showed something else.
His father's car had been sabotaged.
Daniel watched his father struggle to control the vehicle.
Then the screen went black.
Daniel covered his face.
His father hadn't abandoned him.
He had been murdered.
Lily approached.
“Daddy?”
Daniel wiped his eyes.
“Yes?”
“Are you sad?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because I found out Grandpa loved me.”
Lily hugged him.
Daniel held her tightly.
“I know.”
That night, federal agents arrested Daniel's uncle.
Marcus was taken into custody.
The evidence was overwhelming.
But there was still one problem.
Vanessa remained charged with child abuse.
Daniel returned to the station.
“I want to change my statement.”
Detective Miller looked at him.
“You're saying the injuries weren't intentional?”
“I believe she was protecting Lily.”
Miller nodded.
“We found security footage.”
“What footage?”
“From your neighbor's camera.”
She showed him.
The video changed everything.
Marcus had entered the Carter home.
Vanessa saw him.
She grabbed Lily.
She dragged her toward the hallway.
Lily screamed.
Marcus disappeared before police arrived.
Daniel stared at the screen.
He finally understood.
His wife had been fighting to keep their daughter away from a dangerous man.
Not hurting her.
Saving her.
Vanessa was released pending investigation.
When Daniel saw her outside the station, she stopped.
Neither knew what to say.
Finally, Daniel whispered:
“I'm sorry.”
Vanessa started crying.
“I should have told you.”
“Yes.”
“I was afraid.”
“So was I.”
She looked at him.
“Do you hate me?”
Daniel shook his head.
“No.”
“What then?”
He looked toward Lily.
“I don't know yet.”
Vanessa nodded.
“That’s fair.”
Lily ran toward her.
“Mommy!”
Vanessa dropped to her knees.
They hugged.
Daniel watched them.
For the first time in months, he felt like his family might survive.
Then Detective Miller walked over.
“We have another problem.”
Daniel looked up.
“What?”
“Marcus wasn't acting alone.”
“Who else?”
Miller handed him a photograph.
Daniel stared.
His blood ran cold.
The man standing beside Marcus was someone Daniel knew.
May you like
Someone he trusted.
His best friend.
