"Who are you?"
He looked at me.
"Cole Maddox."
"How do you know my name?"
"Because your father told me about you."
"Which father?"
Daniel glanced toward my dad.
Then he looked at me again.
"The one who helped me disappear."
I studied him.
"Why did you leave Rachel?"
His face changed.
"I didn't."
"She spent eleven years believing you were dead."
"I know."
"She raised your daughter alone."
"I know."
"Then where were you?"
Daniel lowered his head.
"Trying to keep her alive."
I almost laughed.
Everybody had been protecting everybody else.
And somehow, every act of protection had left another person alone.
Daniel continued.
"Harold found out about Emma before she was born. He wanted the evidence she carried."
"What evidence?"
Daniel looked toward Rachel.
"Your daughter has the original records."
Rachel shook her head.
"She's a child."
"Exactly."
Daniel explained that when he discovered Harold was planning to destroy the network's records, he copied everything onto a small encrypted device.
He divided the evidence into several pieces.
One copy went to a lawyer.
Another was hidden in the wooden horse.
The third was placed inside a children's book that had been given to Emma before she was born.
He had chosen those hiding places because nobody would think to search them.
Harold discovered the first two.
But he never found the final copy.
"Where is it?" I asked.
Daniel looked at Emma's backpack.
"Inside the book."
Rachel shook her head.
"She has hundreds of books."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Not this one."
He described it.
A small illustrated book about a wooden horse.
The cover was blue.
The title was The Little Horse Who Found His Way Home.
Rachel immediately recognized it.
She had kept it on Emma's bedside table for years.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know whether Harold was watching you."
Rachel stepped closer.
"You could have contacted me."
"I tried."
"When?"
"Three times."
"When?"
"Two years ago. Then last winter. And again last month."
Rachel shook her head.
"I never received anything."
Daniel looked toward the floor.
"Then someone intercepted the messages."
I looked at my father.
He appeared devastated.
"Who?"
Daniel hesitated.
Then he said something that changed everything.
"Your mother."
We returned to the farmhouse.
Mom had remained behind in town with Dana and Emma.
I called her.
She answered immediately.
"Did you find Daniel?"
"Yes."
There was a pause.
"Is he safe?"
"Yes."
Another pause.
"Good."
"Daniel says you intercepted his messages."
Silence.
Then Mom exhaled.
"I can explain."
I closed my eyes.
"Please tell me this isn't another lie."
"I didn't want you involved."
"That doesn't answer my question."
She finally spoke.
"Daniel contacted me because he believed someone inside the family was helping Harold."
"And you thought it was me?"
"No."
"Caleb?"
"No."
"Dad?"
She didn't answer.
I looked toward my father.
He had heard the conversation.
His face had gone pale.
"Who did you suspect?"
Mom whispered:
"Marcus."
I stared at her.
"Marcus was already working for Harold."
"Yes."
"Then why intercept Daniel's messages?"
"Because Daniel wanted to expose everyone connected to the network, including people who had unknowingly helped it."
I frowned.
"Who?"
Mom's voice broke.
"Your father."
I looked at Dad.
He shook his head.
"That's impossible."
Mom continued.
"Years ago, your father signed documents for Marcus. He believed they were ordinary vehicle-transfer papers. He didn't know the vehicles were being used to move people."
Dad stepped closer to the phone.
"I never knowingly helped Harold."
"I know," Mom replied. "But Daniel believed the records could make you look guilty."
I stared at Dad.
He looked devastated.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I thought I could fix it."
"How?"
"By keeping the evidence away from everyone."
I closed my eyes.
Another secret.
Another attempt to protect us.
And another decision made without asking the people who would have to live with the consequences.
"Mom, where are you?"
"At Dana's."
"Stay there."
"Why?"
"Because we are coming back."
I ended the call.
Daniel watched me.
"Your family has been carrying this for a long time."
"Yes."
"And Harold knows it."
"Then we need to stop him."
Daniel nodded.
But before we could make another move, his phone rang.
He looked at the screen.
Then he turned it toward me.
The caller's name was displayed.
HAROLD KEENE.
Daniel answered.
"Hello."
A calm male voice came through.
"Daniel. It's been a long time."
Daniel said nothing.
"I heard you've been collecting old friends."
"Leave them alone."
Harold laughed softly.
"I've never wanted to hurt anyone."
"Then why are you looking for Emma?"
"Because she has something that belongs to me."
"She belongs to herself."
"Such noble words."
Daniel looked toward Rachel.
Harold continued.
"Bring me the original records. You have until tomorrow morning."
"And if I don't?"
There was a pause.
"Then the people you love will begin receiving visitors."
The call ended.
Daniel lowered the phone.
I looked at him.
"How did he know we were here?"