Chapter 17 - CLAIRE'S MOTHER
Caroline had disappeared fourteen years earlier.
Claire always said cancer had taken her.
There had been no funeral Daniel attended.
No grave he visited.
He had accepted Claire's explanation because her grief seemed genuine.
Now Daniel understood it had all been another lie.
Police traced the motel photograph.
By the time they arrived, the room was empty.
But Caroline left a letter.
For Sophie.
Daniel opened it only after Sarah agreed.
Dear Sophie.
If you are reading this, your father finally discovered what Claire became.
I am sorry I did not save you sooner.
Daniel stopped.
The letter continued.
Claire was nineteen when Victor Crane first found her.
She was terrified, desperate, and easy to manipulate.
He helped her escape criminal charges after a reckless driving accident.
In exchange, he asked favors.
Small ones first.
Deliver an envelope.
Record a conversation.
Lie about where someone had been.
Then the favors became crimes.
Caroline had tried to expose Victor.
Claire warned him instead.
Victor threatened Caroline's life.
So she disappeared.
For years, Caroline secretly watched Claire.
She had been the woman visiting Sophie's house.
The woman who warned Sophie about the red ring.
Emily had not written the note.
Caroline had.
Daniel looked at Emily.
"You knew?"
Emily shook her head.
"No."
The letter continued.
Caroline had found Noah at Victor's farmhouse.
She helped him escape.
But she could not bring him to police because she believed Victor still had people inside the investigation.
Instead, she was taking Noah to the only person she trusted.
The letter ended with a name.
THOMAS REED.
Rebecca gasped.
"Andrew's brother."
"Where is he?"
"Colorado."
Daniel immediately called federal authorities.
Thomas Reed was located.
But Noah was not with him.
Thomas had received a message from Caroline asking for help.
She never arrived.
The last traffic camera showing Caroline's sedan was near Interstate 70.
Then it vanished.
Daniel felt helpless.
Until Sarah noticed the date written at the bottom of Caroline's letter.
It was tomorrow's date.
"She wrote this for tomorrow."
Daniel stared.
"Why?"
Emily understood first.
"Because she expected you wouldn't find the letter until after something happened."
Then Daniel's phone rang.
Claire.
From the hospital.
He answered.
Her voice was weak.
"My mother is alive."
Daniel said nothing.
"Daniel?"
"Yes."
Claire began crying.
"Victor found her."
"How do you know?"
"He called me."
Daniel's grip tightened.
"What did he say?"
Claire whispered.
"He wants an exchange."
"Caroline and Noah for the files."
Daniel looked at Ruiz.
"Where?"
Claire told him.
An old courthouse scheduled for demolition outside the city.
Midnight.
Then she added.
"Victor wants Sophie there too."
Daniel's expression became stone.
"That's never happening."
Claire began sobbing.
"You don't understand."
"He's not asking because of the files."
Daniel felt cold.
"Then why?"
May you like
Claire whispered.
"Because Sophie saw him kill someone."
