Chapter 9
By the time police reached Riverside, Lauren was gone.
Her car remained behind.
Driver’s door open.
Keys in the ignition.
A drop of blood on the steering wheel.
Nothing else.
Police blocked off the entire property.
I stayed at the station with Thomas.
Diane sat in another room.
For three hours, nobody told us anything.
Then Detective Morgan returned carrying a plastic evidence bag.
Inside was a tiny memory card.
My knees almost gave out.
“You found it?”
“Under the driver’s seat.”
“Lauren left it?”
“We think so.”
“Have you watched it?”
Morgan nodded.
Her expression told me everything.
“Show me.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Yes.”
She led me into a conference room.
Thomas came with me.
The video began.
A dashboard camera.
Date stamped three years earlier.
My mother’s car appeared ahead.
Then Ryan’s black SUV entered the frame.
Following closely.
Too closely.
The camera belonged to a third vehicle traveling behind both of them.
My mother changed lanes.
Ryan followed.
She accelerated.
He accelerated.
Then the video skipped.
Seconds later, my mother’s car swerved.
Ryan’s SUV moved beside her.
There was contact.
A small hit at first.
Then another.
My mother’s car crossed the shoulder.
The camera shook as the driver filming slowed.
Her silver car disappeared down the embankment.
Ryan stopped.
For seven seconds.
Seven horrible seconds.
Then his SUV drove away.
I stared at the screen.
My mother had been alive down there.
And Ryan left.
Thomas covered his mouth.
“I’m sorry.”
I couldn’t cry.
Not yet.
Morgan stopped the video.
“We’re issuing alerts statewide.”
My voice sounded strange.
“What about Lauren?”
“We’re still searching.”
A commotion erupted outside.
An officer shouted.
Morgan opened the door.
Thomas and I followed.
Diane stood in the hallway staring at her phone.
“He contacted me.”
Morgan grabbed the device.
A message from Ryan.
MOM, I NEED MONEY. COME TO THE OLD CABIN. COME ALONE OR LAUREN DOESN’T WALK OUT.
Morgan looked at Diane.
“What cabin?”
Diane hesitated.
Thomas snapped, “Tell her!”
“Our old hunting cabin.”
“Where?”
“About forty miles north.”
Police began moving instantly.
Diane grabbed Morgan’s arm.
“I’m going.”
“No.”
“He expects me.”
“We can use that.”
“I said I’m going.”
For once, I saw something in Diane I had never seen before.
Not cruelty.
Not pride.
A mother realizing exactly what her protection had created.
I stepped toward her.
“You don’t owe Ryan another rescue.”
She looked at me.
“No. I owe you one.”
Police fitted Diane with a small recording device.
They planned to keep her under surveillance from the moment she arrived.
I wasn’t allowed anywhere near the cabin.
I didn’t argue.
This time, I trusted Morgan.
An hour later, we listened from a mobile command vehicle parked several miles away.
Diane’s voice came through the speakers.
“Ryan?”
A door opened.
Then Ryan.
“Did you bring the money?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
“In the bag.”
“Phone.”
“What?”
“Give me your phone.”
Diane obeyed.
Then she asked, “Where’s Lauren?”
Silence.
“Ryan?”
“She’s fine.”
“I want to see her.”
“You don’t get to make demands.”
A faint sound came through the microphone.
A woman coughing.
Lauren.
Alive.
Diane said, “Son, please. This ends tonight.”
Ryan laughed.
“It ended three years ago when Emily’s mother decided she was smarter than me.”
Nobody in the command vehicle moved.
Morgan stared at the recorder.
Diane asked softly, “What did you do?”
Ryan answered.
Exactly what police needed.
“I scared her. She panicked. She lost control.”
“You hit her car.”
“She should have given me the documents.”
Thomas closed his eyes.
Then Ryan’s voice changed.
“Who are you talking to?”
Static exploded through the speaker.
Diane screamed.
May you like
Morgan shouted, “Move!”
And every officer ran toward the cabin.
