Chapter 7: ## Chapter 7: The Hour That Changed Everything
For: The Hour That Changed Everything
For several seconds, I couldn't move.
My daughter's bedroom window stood several seconds, I couldn't move.
My daughter's bedroom window stood open. The curtains fluttered in the cold night air, and her open. The curtains fluttered in the cold night air, and her little pink blanket lay crumpled on the floor.
Lily was gone.
I called her name anyway.
“Lily little pink blanket lay crumpled on the floor.
Lily was gone.
I called her name anyway.
“Lily!””
I searched beneath the bed, inside the closet, and behind the bathroom door. I knew she wasn't!””
I searched beneath the bed, inside the closet, and behind the bathroom door. I knew she wasn't there, but some desperate part of me kept hoping I'd find her hiding.
Margaret stood in the doorway there, but some desperate part of me kept hoping I'd find her hiding.
Margaret stood in the doorway, trembling.
“Mr. Hayes, I was downstairs for less than five minutes. I swear I, trembling.
“Mr. Hayes, I was downstairs for less than five minutes. I swear I didn't hear anything.””
I turned toward her.
“It's not your fault.””
James appeared behind her, already speaking didn't hear anything.””
I turned toward her.
“It's not your fault.””
James appeared behind her, already speaking to emergency services.
“Seven-year-old female. Taken from a private residence. We have a threatening message to emergency services.
“Seven-year-old female. Taken from a private residence. We have a threatening message and a photograph of the child.””
I grabbed my phone and called the unknown number.
It rang twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
“ and a photograph of the child.””
I grabbed my phone and called the unknown number.
It rang twice.
Then a man's voice answered.
“Marcus Hayes.””
“Where is my daughter?””
A quiet chuckle came through the speaker.
“She's safe.””
Marcus Hayes.””
“Where is my daughter?””
A quiet chuckle came through the speaker.
“She's safe.””
“Put her on the phone.””
“Not yet.””
I gripped the banister.
“If you've touched“Put her on the phone.””
“Not yet.””
I gripped the banister.
“If you've touched one hair on her head—”
“Careful,” the man interrupted.
“You don't want to make this difficult one hair on her head—”
“Careful,” the man interrupted.
“You don't want to make this difficult for the little girl.””
I forced myself to breathe.
“What do you want?””
“The locket.””
“You already have the photograph for the little girl.””
I forced myself to breathe.
“What do you want?””
“The locket.””
“You already have the photograph.””
“I want the original.””
“Why?””
“Because Rachel was clever enough to hide something inside.””
“I want the original.””
“Why?””
“Because Rachel was clever enough to hide something inside it.””
I looked at the empty velvet box in my hand.
“What did she hide?””
The man it.””
I looked at the empty velvet box in my hand.
“What did she hide?””
The man laughed.
“That's what you're going to find out.””
“Let me speak to Lily.””
laughed.
“That's what you're going to find out.””
“Let me speak to Lily.””
There was a pause.
Then I heard a tiny voice.
“Daddy?””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Lily!There was a pause.
Then I heard a tiny voice.
“Daddy?””
My knees nearly gave way.
“Lily! Baby, are you okay?””
“Daddy, I'm scared.””
“Listen to me, sweetheart. I'm coming to Baby, are you okay?””
“Daddy, I'm scared.””
“Listen to me, sweetheart. I'm coming to get you.””
A man's voice interrupted.
“Time's running out.””
The call ended.
I get you.””
A man's voice interrupted.
“Time's running out.””
The call ended.
I stared at my phone.
James stepped closer.
“Marcus, don't go anywhere alone. The police are tracing the number.””
“I don't stared at my phone.
James stepped closer.
“Marcus, don't go anywhere alone. The police are tracing the number.””
“I don't care about the number. I care about finding Lily.””
“We'll find her.””
I turned toward Eleanor.
care about the number. I care about finding Lily.””
“We'll find her.””
I turned toward Eleanor.
She had been standing silently near the staircase, her face drained of color.
“Do you recognize the voiceShe had been standing silently near the staircase, her face drained of color.
“Do you recognize the voice?””
She shook her head.
Then she suddenly looked at the photograph in my hand.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“Richard?””
She shook her head.
Then she suddenly looked at the photograph in my hand.
“Wait.””
“What?””
“Richard used to employ a security contractor named Thomas Bell. He handled private investigations and personal security used to employ a security contractor named Thomas Bell. He handled private investigations and personal security.””
James looked up.
“Do you have his contact information?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He was fired several years ago, but Richard continued.””
James looked up.
“Do you have his contact information?””
Eleanor nodded.
“He was fired several years ago, but Richard continued paying him through one of his companies.””
James immediately called the police and gave them the name.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Where is your father?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
paying him through one of his companies.””
James immediately called the police and gave them the name.
I looked at Vanessa.
“Where is your father?””
She shook her head.
“I don't know.””
“You've been speaking to him all day.””
“Not since this morning.””
“Then call him“You've been speaking to him all day.””
“Not since this morning.””
“Then call him.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Marcus—”
“Call him!””
She took out her phone.
Her hands shook as.””
Vanessa hesitated.
“Marcus—”
“Call him!””
She took out her phone.
Her hands shook as she dialed.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then Richard Whitmore she dialed.
It rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then Richard Whitmore answered.
“Vanessa, I told you not to call me tonight.””
She pressed the speaker button.
“Dad, where are you?””
“That's none answered.
“Vanessa, I told you not to call me tonight.””
She pressed the speaker button.
“Dad, where are you?””
“That's none of your business.””
“Lily is missing.””
Silence.
Then Richard said, “What?””
“Someone of your business.””
“Lily is missing.””
Silence.
Then Richard said, “What?””
“Someone took her. They said they want Rachel's locket.””
I watched Vanessa's face.
Richard sighed.
“Then give took her. They said they want Rachel's locket.””
I watched Vanessa's face.
Richard sighed.
“Then give them what they want.””
I stepped forward.
“You know something about this.””
“Who is that?””
“Marcus them what they want.””
I stepped forward.
“You know something about this.””
“Who is that?””
“Marcus Hayes.””
Richard's voice became colder.
“Mr. Hayes. You've made a very expensive mistake.””
“Where is my daughter?””
“Your Hayes.””
Richard's voice became colder.
“Mr. Hayes. You've made a very expensive mistake.””
“Where is my daughter?””
“Your daughter is not my responsibility.””
“Someone just threatened her.””
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that daughter is not my responsibility.””
“Someone just threatened her.””
“Then perhaps you should have thought about that before canceling your wedding.””
I felt my hands shaking.
“Listen to me carefully. If you have anything to do with before canceling your wedding.””
I felt my hands shaking.
“Listen to me carefully. If you have anything to do with this, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars.””
Richard laughed.
“You still don't understand, do you?””
The this, I'll make sure you spend the rest of your life behind bars.””
Richard laughed.
“You still don't understand, do you?””
The line went dead.
James looked at me.
“That's enough. The police are on their way.””
But my phone vibrated again.
line went dead.
James looked at me.
“That's enough. The police are on their way.””
But my phone vibrated again.
Another message.
The old Whitmore estate. Midnight. Bring the locket. Come alone.
I looked at the clockAnother message.
The old Whitmore estate. Midnight. Bring the locket. Come alone.
I looked at the clock.
11:08 p.m.
Fifty-two minutes.
The police arrived within.
11:08 p.m.
Fifty-two minutes.
The police arrived within minutes.
Detective Laura Bennett was the first through the door. She was in her forties, with short brown hair and a minutes.
Detective Laura Bennett was the first through the door. She was in her forties, with short brown hair and a calm expression that didn't change when she saw Lily's empty bedroom.
“Mr. Hayes, I need you to tell me everything calm expression that didn't change when she saw Lily's empty bedroom.
“Mr. Hayes, I need you to tell me everything.””
I showed her the messages, the photograph, and the call history.
She studied the threatening note.
.””
I showed her the messages, the photograph, and the call history.
She studied the threatening note.
“Did anyone else know about the locket?””
“Vanessa. Her father. Eleanor. My attorney.””
“Anyone outside this house“Did anyone else know about the locket?””
“Vanessa. Her father. Eleanor. My attorney.””
“Anyone outside this house?””
I hesitated.
“Possibly the person who stole it.””
Detective Bennett nodded.
“We're treating this as an ab?””
I hesitated.
“Possibly the person who stole it.””
Detective Bennett nodded.
“We're treating this as an abduction. Officers are checking the surrounding streets, traffic cameras, and nearby properties.””
James handedduction. Officers are checking the surrounding streets, traffic cameras, and nearby properties.””
James handed her a copy of the financial documents.
“This is connected to an attempted trust fraud.””
She scanned her a copy of the financial documents.
“This is connected to an attempted trust fraud.””
She scanned the papers.
“Mr. Hayes, I'm going to need copies of everything.””
“You'll have them.””
Then the papers.
“Mr. Hayes, I'm going to need copies of everything.””
“You'll have them.””
Then Eleanor spoke.
“There's something you need to know about the Whitmore estate.””
Detective Bennett turned.
“What Eleanor spoke.
“There's something you need to know about the Whitmore estate.””
Detective Bennett turned.
“What?””
“There's an old underground service passage connecting the main house to the carriage building.?””
“There's an old underground service passage connecting the main house to the carriage building. Richard had it sealed years ago, but the entrance still exists.””
I looked at her.
“How Richard had it sealed years ago, but the entrance still exists.””
I looked at her.
“How do you know?””
“Because I lived there.””
She paused.
“And because Clara used it the do you know?””
“Because I lived there.””
She paused.
“And because Clara used it the night she disappeared.””
The room went silent.
Detective Bennett immediately contacted her team.
“Send units to night she disappeared.””
The room went silent.
Detective Bennett immediately contacted her team.
“Send units to the Whitmore estate. Check every entrance, including outbuildings and underground access.””
I stepped the Whitmore estate. Check every entrance, including outbuildings and underground access.””
I stepped forward.
“I know the property. I'll take you there.””
“Not without officers.””
“Then I'll go with them.””
forward.
“I know the property. I'll take you there.””
“Not without officers.””
“Then I'll go with them.””
She studied me for a moment.
“Fine. But you follow my instructions.””
I noddedShe studied me for a moment.
“Fine. But you follow my instructions.””
I nodded.
As we moved toward the front door, Vanessa suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, wait.””
I turned.
She was crying.
.
As we moved toward the front door, Vanessa suddenly grabbed my arm.
“Marcus, wait.””
I turned.
She was crying.
“I know I've done terrible things. But please bring Lily home.””
I looked at her.
“I know I've done terrible things. But please bring Lily home.””
I looked at her.
“You should have protected her when you had the chance.””
She lowered her head.
For the first time, she had nothing“You should have protected her when you had the chance.””
She lowered her head.
For the first time, she had nothing to say.
Then Eleanor approached me.
“Marcus, there's something else I didn't tell to say.
Then Eleanor approached me.
“Marcus, there's something else I didn't tell you.””
I looked at her.
“What now?””
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small silver key.
Rachel's handwriting was engraved on a you.””
I looked at her.
“What now?””
She reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a small silver key.
Rachel's handwriting was engraved on a tiny tag attached to it.
For Clara.
Eleanor pressed it into my palm.
“Rachel gave me this before she died. She said Clara would know what it tiny tag attached to it.
For Clara.
Eleanor pressed it into my palm.
“Rachel gave me this before she died. She said Clara would know what it opened.””
I stared at the key.
“Why didn't you give it to me earlier?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
Eleanor nodded.
“And because opened.””
I stared at the key.
“Why didn't you give it to me earlier?””
“Because I was afraid.””
“Of Richard?””
Eleanor nodded.
“And because I knew what happened to my daughter.””
She looked toward the empty staircase.
“Clara didn't run away.””
My phone vibrated I knew what happened to my daughter.””
She looked toward the empty staircase.
“Clara didn't run away.””
My phone vibrated.
The unknown number had sent another message.
Midnight, Marcus. Don't bring the police.
Then a final.
The unknown number had sent another message.
Midnight, Marcus. Don't bring the police.
Then a final message appeared.
It contained a photograph.
Lily was sitting in a dark room, holding her stuffed rabbit.
Behind her stood a message appeared.
It contained a photograph.
Lily was sitting in a dark room, holding her stuffed rabbit.
Behind her stood a man wearing a black jacket.
I recognized him from an old photograph Eleanor had shown us.
Thomas Bell.
And beside man wearing a black jacket.
I recognized him from an old photograph Eleanor had shown us.
Thomas Bell.
And beside him, sitting comfortably in an armchair, was Richard Whitmore.
He was smiling.
May you like
him, sitting comfortably in an armchair, was Richard Whitmore.
He was smiling.
