“He said he was collecting equipment. His vehicle should still be by the service drive.”
Miles went to check with the officers.
Daniel remained in the corridor, close enough to hear June reading a picture book. Lily interrupted to correct the sound a duck made. For one second, the familiar complaint nearly undid him.
Mercer’s phone vibrated.
She listened, asked two short questions, then looked toward the sitting room.
“What?” Daniel asked.
“We need to confirm a few things.”
He hated that careful sentence. He had used versions of it in boardrooms when something had already gone disastrously wrong.
“Please.”
Mercer considered him for a moment.
“An officer has spoken with Ms. Langford. She voluntarily provided access to a phone while offering an explanation for the documents.”
“And?”
“The explanation raised further concerns.”
Behind him, the breakfast room door opened. June looked out. Daniel turned immediately, but she shook her head: Lily was all right.
Mercer waited until the door closed again.
“There is a draft message,” she said. “It refers to your daughter.”
Daniel felt the corridor narrow.
“What does it say?”
May you like
The detective did not look away.
“It begins, ‘If you want Lily back, you will follow these instructions.’”
