Chapter 19 - THE LAST RED RING
Victor escaped through an underground records tunnel beneath the old courthouse.
Police found his abandoned coat.
His phone.
And the red ring.
But not Victor.
Claire survived the gunshot.
The bullet passed through her shoulder.
She was transferred directly into federal custody after surgery.
Caroline and Noah were rescued.
Rebecca held her son for the first time in six years.
Noah initially stood frozen.
Then Rebecca whispered.
"I never stopped loving you."
He ran into her arms.
Daniel turned away to give them privacy.
Sarah found him outside the room.
"It's almost over."
Daniel shook his head.
"Not while Victor is free."
The acquisition of Vance Biomedical was suspended.
The executives connected to Victor were removed.
Marcus was cleared.
Ruiz was reinstated.
Judge Harmon agreed to cooperate.
Agent Brooks negotiated for reduced charges.
Everything pointed toward Victor.
Then Jonathan Pierce's original death investigation was reopened.
Sophie gave a recorded statement with child specialists present.
Her description matched forensic evidence police had ignored years earlier.
Victor Crane was formally charged with murder.
That same evening, Daniel took Sophie home.
Sarah came too.
The birthday decorations were still hanging.
The cake was gone.
The balloons had begun losing air.
Sophie stared at the table.
"Can we have my birthday again?"
Daniel's throat tightened.
"We can have as many birthdays as you want."
Sarah smiled.
They ordered pizza.
Daniel bought another cake.
They lit eight candles again.
Sophie closed her eyes and made a wish.
Before she blew them out, the doorbell rang.
Everyone froze.
Daniel checked the camera.
No one stood outside.
He opened the door carefully.
A small box sat on the porch.
Inside was Victor's red ring.
Daniel immediately called Ruiz.
Beneath the ring was a note.
YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME.
NOW I TAKE SOMETHING FROM YOU.
Daniel ran back inside.
"Sophie?"
She was still at the table.
"Sarah?"
"Here."
Caroline and Rebecca were protected elsewhere.
Marcus was safe.
Daniel's phone rang.
Hospital security.
"Mr. Vance?"
"Yes."
"We have a situation involving Claire."
Daniel's stomach dropped.
"What happened?"
"Someone attempted to enter her secure room."
"Who?"
"We don't know."
"The individual fled."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Victor was still in the city.
Then Sophie whispered.
"Daddy."
Daniel turned.
She was staring toward the backyard.
A man stood beyond the glass door.
Tall.
Dark coat.
Daniel recognized him instantly.
Victor Crane.
Victor raised one hand.
Then he pointed toward Sophie.
Daniel lunged for the door.
Victor ran.
Federal agents responded within minutes.
Dogs tracked him through three backyards.
Across a drainage ditch.
Into an industrial district.
Daniel stayed with Sophie.
He refused to leave her again.
At 2:14 a.m., Ruiz called.
"We found him."
Daniel closed his eyes.
"Alive?"
"Yes."
Victor had been cornered inside an abandoned warehouse.
He tried to escape through the roof.
Officers arrested him without further injuries.
Ruiz paused.
"Daniel."
"It's over."
May you like
Daniel wanted to believe him.
For the first time, he almost did.
