The first thing Daniel Reed noticed the morning after the case went public was that someone had moved the chair beside his desk.
\nIt was a small thing.
\nA wooden chair with one leg slightly shorter than the others.
\nYesterday it had been pushed against the wall.
\nNow it sat directly across from his desk.
\nWaiting.
\nDaniel stopped halfway through the station lobby.
\nThe overnight officer looked up from his computer.
\n\u201cYou see that?\u201d
\nDaniel nodded.
\n\u201cThought maybe you moved it.\u201d
\n\u201cI didn\u2019t.\u201d
\nDaniel walked closer.
\nThere was nothing remarkable about the chair.
\nNo note.
\nNo envelope.
\nNo fingerprints he could see.
\nJust a chair.
\nBut after what had happened with Emma and Olivia, Daniel had learned something he would never forget:
\nSometimes the smallest things were the ones worth noticing.
\nHe pulled the chair back against the wall.
\nThen he saw the envelope.
\nIt was underneath the seat.
\nPlain white.
\nNo name.
\nNo address.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Only three words written across the front.<\/p>\n
**YOU MISSED ONE.**<\/p>\n
Daniel didn’t touch it immediately.<\/p>\n
He stared at it.<\/p>\n
Then he looked toward the security camera.<\/p>\n
The red indicator was blinking.<\/p>\n
Recording.<\/p>\n
Good.<\/p>\n
He called another officer into the lobby.<\/p>\n
Only then did he put on gloves and pick up the envelope.<\/p>\n
Inside was a single photograph.<\/p>\n
An old photograph.<\/p>\n
Two little girls stood in front of a birthday cake.<\/p>\n
They looked about four years old.<\/p>\n
Twins.<\/p>\n
Same eyes.<\/p>\n
Same dark hair.<\/p>\n
Same crooked smiles.<\/p>\n
Daniel turned the photograph over.<\/p>\n
On the back, someone had written a date.<\/p>\n
Six years earlier.<\/p>\n
Then, underneath it:<\/p>\n
**ASK WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE OLIVIA.**<\/p>\n
Daniel’s stomach tightened.<\/p>\n
He knew immediately what the message meant.<\/p>\n
This was not about what happened yesterday.<\/p>\n
It was about something that had happened before.<\/p>\n
Something nobody had told him.<\/p>\n
Something Michael Carter had apparently forgotten to mention.<\/p>\n
Daniel picked up the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet me the Carter case file.\u201d<\/p>\n
The overnight officer frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich one?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the photograph again.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery one.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
At 7:13 a.m., Daniel was sitting alone in the records room.<\/p>\n
Folders covered the table.<\/p>\n
Medical reports.<\/p>\n
School records.<\/p>\n
Emergency calls.<\/p>\n
Family-services reports.<\/p>\n
Pharmacy transactions.<\/p>\n
Old police contacts.<\/p>\n
He went backward year by year.<\/p>\n
At first, there was nothing.<\/p>\n
Michael Carter had no criminal history that explained the situation.<\/p>\n
No arrests.<\/p>\n
No protective orders.<\/p>\n
No documented violence.<\/p>\n
He had a clean record.<\/p>\n
Too clean.<\/p>\n
Daniel opened the school records.<\/p>\n
The twins had attended the same elementary school since kindergarten.<\/p>\n
Teachers described Emma as talkative.<\/p>\n
Olivia as quiet.<\/p>\n
Both were described as bright.<\/p>\n
Both had excellent attendance.<\/p>\n
Then Daniel found something.<\/p>\n
A note from a school counselor.<\/p>\n
Six years old.<\/p>\n
Written when the girls were in first grade.<\/p>\n
The note was only four lines long.<\/p>\n
**Olivia has become unusually anxious about going home.**<\/p>\n
Daniel read it twice.<\/p>\n
Then again.<\/p>\n
There was no follow-up attached.<\/p>\n
No investigation.<\/p>\n
No interview.<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
He turned the page.<\/p>\n
A second note.<\/p>\n
Three months later.<\/p>\n
**Student reports that father becomes angry when she cries.**<\/p>\n
Daniel leaned back.<\/p>\n
His jaw tightened.<\/p>\n
Still no investigation.<\/p>\n
Still no follow-up.<\/p>\n
He kept reading.<\/p>\n
A third note.<\/p>\n
**Emma states that Olivia is \u201cnot allowed to talk about medicine.\u201d**<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped.<\/p>\n
The room seemed to become quieter.<\/p>\n
He checked the date.<\/p>\n
Six years earlier.<\/p>\n
The same year as the photograph.<\/p>\n
The same year someone had written:<\/p>\n
**ASK WHAT HAPPENED BEFORE OLIVIA.**<\/p>\n
Daniel reached for the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cCan you pull the original school counselor interview?\u201d<\/p>\n
A pause.<\/p>\n
Then:<\/p>\n
\u201cThere’s no interview attached.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen where did the note come from?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFind out.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
At 8:02 a.m., Daniel drove to the school.<\/p>\n
The principal met him at the entrance.<\/p>\n
She was younger than he expected.<\/p>\n
She introduced herself as Karen Blake.<\/p>\n
When Daniel showed her the photograph, her expression changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know them?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom six years ago?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen hesitated.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you remember?\u201d<\/p>\n
The principal folded her hands.<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael was very involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel waited.<\/p>\n
Karen continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe attended meetings. He volunteered for school events. He knew every teacher’s name.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWas he a good father?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen looked uncomfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cI didn’t say that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel noticed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat he was involved.\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Daniel placed the counselor’s note on the table.<\/p>\n
Karen read it.<\/p>\n
Her face became pale.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe never found out what that meant.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou never asked?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe counselor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is she?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen looked toward the hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe doesn’t work here anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere did she go?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen lowered her voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe disappeared.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople don’t usually disappear from a school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know what I mean.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo,\u201d Daniel said quietly. \u201cI don’t.\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen sat down.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe left suddenly.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAbout a month after the second note.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she resign?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she give a reason?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said she was afraid she had made a mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat mistake?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel opened his notebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat was her name?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cLaura Bennett.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel wrote it down.<\/p>\n
Then he asked the question that made the principal look away.<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Laura ever tell you she thought Olivia was in danger?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen didn’t answer immediately.<\/p>\n
Finally, she whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stopped writing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat exactly did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen swallowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
Her voice broke.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said the little girl had already tried to tell someone once.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid Laura tell you who?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe only said that someone had ignored her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel closed the notebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Karen looked toward the school hallway.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause Michael Carter was very persuasive.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Daniel returned to the station at 10:17 a.m.<\/p>\n
He searched for Laura Bennett.<\/p>\n
Nothing.<\/p>\n
No current address.<\/p>\n
No employment record.<\/p>\n
No updated phone number.<\/p>\n
Then he found an old driver’s license record.<\/p>\n
Expired.<\/p>\n
A previous address.<\/p>\n
Daniel entered it into the system.<\/p>\n
The address belonged to a small apartment building on the east side of town.<\/p>\n
He drove there.<\/p>\n
The building was nearly empty.<\/p>\n
A woman answered the door of apartment 3B.<\/p>\n
She was older than the photograph Daniel had seen on the school website.<\/p>\n
But her eyes were the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cLaura Bennett?\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman froze.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel showed his badge.<\/p>\n
\u201cI need to ask you about Olivia and Emma Carter.\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura immediately closed the door halfway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know anything.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou wrote the school reports.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t want to talk about it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked at him.<\/p>\n
Then she whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel lowered his voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat were you wrong about?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I had more time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The door opened again.<\/p>\n
Laura stepped aside.<\/p>\n
Daniel entered.<\/p>\n
Her apartment was small.<\/p>\n
Books lined one wall.<\/p>\n
Boxes filled another.<\/p>\n
There were no photographs.<\/p>\n
No television.<\/p>\n
No decorations.<\/p>\n
It looked less like a home than a place someone stayed while waiting for something.<\/p>\n
Laura sat down.<\/p>\n
Daniel remained standing.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened six years ago?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked at the floor.<\/p>\n
\u201cOlivia came to my office.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAlone?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did she say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura closed her eyes.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said her father had made her take medicine.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s pulse quickened.<\/p>\n
\u201cHow old was she?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSeven.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she say what medicine?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid she describe what happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said her father told her that if she ever told anyone, her sister would disappear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel said nothing.<\/p>\n
Laura continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cI reported it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTo whom?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe school administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey called Michael.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s expression hardened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey called the father?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey said they needed his explanation.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura gave a bitter smile.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said Olivia had nightmares.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at her.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd they believed him?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened next?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOlivia stopped talking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt something cold move through his chest.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened to you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked toward the window.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next week, Michael came to my house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe threatened you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura’s voice dropped.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe thanked me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel didn’t understand.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor caring about his daughter.\u201d<\/p>\n
She paused.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen he told me that sometimes children create stories because they want adults to fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel said nothing.<\/p>\n
Laura continued.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said if I continued asking questions, I’d make the girls’ lives harder.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd you stopped?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought I was protecting them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the boxes.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou left the school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I realized I had done exactly what he wanted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stepped closer.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked directly at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cI stopped asking questions.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
For several seconds, neither spoke.<\/p>\n
Then Laura stood.<\/p>\n
She walked to a box beneath the window.<\/p>\n
She opened it.<\/p>\n
Inside were old notebooks.<\/p>\n
She pulled out one.<\/p>\n
\u201cI kept copies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s eyes moved to the pages.<\/p>\n
\u201cCopies of what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything.\u201d<\/p>\n
She handed him the notebook.<\/p>\n
There were dates.<\/p>\n
Times.<\/p>\n
Descriptions.<\/p>\n
Names.<\/p>\n
And then Daniel saw one sentence underlined three times.<\/p>\n
**Olivia said there were three syringes.**<\/p>\n
Daniel looked up.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura nodded.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe told me there were three.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t know.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSix years ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid you report that?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura shook her head.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause she stopped before she could explain.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura’s eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe heard her father’s car.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked down at the notebook again.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cShe said, \u2018He’s here.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura closed the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was the last time she spoke to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel took a slow breath.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy didn’t you give this to police?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI tried.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter I left the school.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho did you contact?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Daniel repeated:<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
She looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cSomeone came to my apartment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI never saw his face.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s attention sharpened.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat did he say?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHe told me to forget the Carter family.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDid he threaten you?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThen what did he do?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura’s hands began shaking.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe left something on my doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA photograph.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel felt the room change.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat photograph?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked toward the box.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe same photograph you showed me.\u201d<\/p>\n
The twins.<\/p>\n
The birthday cake.<\/p>\n
Six years earlier.<\/p>\n
Daniel’s mind raced.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI burned it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause I was afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAfraid of what?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura looked at him.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat someone wanted me to keep looking.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd now?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura’s eyes moved toward the front door.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow I’m afraid you found the wrong thing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel slowly turned.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n
Laura whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cMichael wasn’t the only person who knew about the syringes.\u201d<\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Daniel returned to the station with the notebook.<\/p>\n
He placed it on the evidence table.<\/p>\n
He photographed every page.<\/p>\n
Then he entered the information into the case database.<\/p>\n
One sentence kept repeating in his mind.<\/p>\n
**There were three syringes.**<\/p>\n
One had been found in Emma’s shoe.<\/p>\n
One had been found in Michael’s backpack.<\/p>\n
That meant there was potentially a third.<\/p>\n
Daniel searched the pharmacy records again.<\/p>\n
One transaction.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
Then another.<\/p>\n
His screen filled with data.<\/p>\n
He filtered the results by Michael Carter’s prescribing credential.<\/p>\n
Three prescriptions.<\/p>\n
Not two.<\/p>\n
Three.<\/p>\n
The first was six years old.<\/p>\n
The second was five years old.<\/p>\n
The third was yesterday.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
The first two had been issued under different patient names.<\/p>\n
The third had been issued under an adult patient.<\/p>\n
He opened the first.<\/p>\n
A name appeared.<\/p>\n
Daniel’s face changed.<\/p>\n
He opened the second.<\/p>\n
Another name.<\/p>\n
Same result.<\/p>\n
Then he looked at the photograph.<\/p>\n
The twins.<\/p>\n
The date.<\/p>\n
Six years ago.<\/p>\n
He whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n
The overnight officer looked over.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stood.<\/p>\n
\u201cGet the hospital records.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich hospital?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel pointed at the screen.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese prescriptions weren’t for Olivia.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer frowned.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen who were they for?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel didn’t answer.<\/p>\n
Because he had already found the first name.<\/p>\n
A child.<\/p>\n
Seven years old.<\/p>\n
The same age as the twins.<\/p>\n
And beside the prescription was a note:<\/p>\n
**PATIENT DECEASED.**<\/p>\n
Daniel felt the room tilt.<\/p>\n
He opened the second record.<\/p>\n
Another child.<\/p>\n
Another prescription.<\/p>\n
Another death.<\/p>\n
Two children.<\/p>\n
Two prescriptions.<\/p>\n
Two deaths.<\/p>\n
Both connected to the same doctor.<\/p>\n
The same prescribing credential.<\/p>\n
Michael Carter.<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Then his phone rang.<\/p>\n
Unknown number.<\/p>\n
He answered.<\/p>\n
\u201cReed.\u201d<\/p>\n
For several seconds there was only breathing.<\/p>\n
Then a little girl’s voice whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficer?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel stood perfectly still.<\/p>\n
\u201cWho is this?\u201d<\/p>\n
The voice trembled.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy name is Sophie.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s hand tightened around the phone.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened, Sophie?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI found something.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n
Silence.<\/p>\n
Then:<\/p>\n
\u201cA syringe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel looked at the case file.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere are you?\u201d<\/p>\n
Another pause.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the house.\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel’s heart stopped.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat house?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Carter house.\u201d<\/p>\n
The line went silent.<\/p>\n
Then Sophie whispered:<\/p>\n
\u201cPlease hurry.\u201d<\/p>\n
A door slammed somewhere in the background.<\/p>\n
The little girl gasped.<\/p>\n
And the call ended.<\/p>\n
Daniel was already moving.<\/p>\n
\u201cCall every unit near the Carter residence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The officer jumped up.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat happened?\u201d<\/p>\n
Daniel grabbed his jacket.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe may have a child inside that house.\u201d<\/p>\n
He reached the station doors.<\/p>\n
Then stopped.<\/p>\n
Because something had just appeared on his phone.<\/p>\n
A text message.<\/p>\n
No number.<\/p>\n
Only an image.<\/p>\n
It was a photograph of the Carter house.<\/p>\n
Taken from across the street.<\/p>\n
And beneath it were six words:<\/p>\n
**YOU SHOULD HAVE LEFT IT ALONE.**<\/p>\n
Daniel stared at the screen.<\/p>\n
Then another message arrived.<\/p>\n
This one contained no photograph.<\/p>\n
Only a sentence.<\/p>\n
**THERE ARE STILL TWO GIRLS.**<\/p>\n
Daniel’s blood ran cold.<\/p>\n
Because Emma and Olivia were supposed to be together in protective care.<\/p>\n
So who were the other two?<\/p>\n
And why had someone been watching the house?<\/p>\n
He looked toward the evidence room.<\/p>\n
Toward the sealed syringe.<\/p>\n
Toward the old photograph.<\/p>\n
Toward Laura Bennett’s notebook.<\/p>\n
For the first time, Daniel understood something terrifying.<\/p>\n
The case he thought had begun when Emma walked through the station doors\u2026<\/p>\n
might actually have started six years earlier.<\/p>\n
And someone had been waiting all that time for somebody to finally find the third syringe.<\/p>\n
**TO BE CONTINUED\u2026**<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
PART 3 The first thing Daniel Reed noticed the morning after the case went public was that someone had moved the chair beside his desk. It was a small thing. … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4139,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5785","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-story"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5785","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5785"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5785\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5790,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5785\/revisions\/5790"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4139"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5785"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5785"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nexttaleus.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5785"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}