Chapter 9: The Woman Who Took My Sister
I had never driven so fast in my life.
My father was behind the wheel, Detective Bennett had activated an emergency response, and I was holding my phone so tightly that my fingers hurt.
My aunt was crying on the other end.
"She told me she had legal authorization," Sarah explained.
"She showed me a document with Richard's signature.""
"Why did you let her take Zora?""
"I thought it was real! She said Zora needed a specialized medical examination!""
I closed my eyes.
Monica had used the same trick again.
Forged documents.
Fake authority.
And a child who was too frightened to know whom to trust.
"Did Zora say anything?"" I asked.
My aunt hesitated.
"She told me she didn't want to go.""
I felt my chest tighten.
"Then why didn't you stop them?""
"I tried, Ethan. One of the men threatened to call the police on me. They had uniforms.""
My father slammed his hand against the steering wheel.
"Those weren't real officers.""
Detective Bennett was speaking into her radio.
"Suspected child abduction. Vehicle is a black SUV, partial registration—"
She paused to check her notes.
"Possible destination is the Miller property on Route 16.""
My father looked at her.
"Which property?""
"The old estate.""
His face turned white.
I knew the place.
It was a large country house Daniel had inherited from our grandfather. It had been vacant for years, except for occasional maintenance visits.
"Why would Monica take Zora there?"" I asked.
My father didn't answer.
Then he remembered something.
"Because there's a private clinic on the property.""
I turned toward him.
"What?""
"Daniel built a medical facility there. He claimed it was for executive health assessments.""
Detective Bennett looked up.
"Does it have a license?""
My father shook his head.
"Not that I know of.""
The detective immediately contacted the local police.
Twenty minutes later, we reached the estate.
The gates were closed.
A security camera followed our car as we approached.
My father stepped out and walked toward the intercom.
"Open the gate!""
A man's voice answered.
"Mr. Miller, this property is private.""
"I'm the owner.""
"Your brother has instructed us not to allow visitors.""
My father stared at the camera.
"Tell Daniel I'm here.""
The intercom clicked off.
A moment later, the gates began opening.
We drove through.
The house stood at the end of a long driveway. Its windows were dark, except for one room on the ground floor.
I recognized the black SUV parked beside the entrance.
Monica's vehicle.
Detective Bennett instructed us to remain behind the officers.
But the moment I saw Zora's pink backpack lying beside the front steps, I lost control.
I ran toward the house.
"Ethan!"" my father shouted.
The front door was unlocked.
Inside, I heard a small voice.
"I want my brother.""
Zora.
I rushed toward the sound.
She was sitting in a white medical chair inside a room that looked like a private examination suite.
Her wrists weren't restrained, but a blood pressure cuff was wrapped around one arm.
A medical tray stood beside her.
Monica was adjusting a syringe.
I froze.
"Get away from her!""
Monica turned.
For a moment, neither of us moved.
Then she placed the syringe on the tray.
"You're making a terrible mistake.""
I stepped toward Zora.
"Come here, sweetheart.""
She immediately jumped from the chair and ran into my arms.
I held her tightly.
She was shaking.
"Ethan, I told her I didn't want the medicine.""
I looked at Monica.
"What were you going to give her?""
"Something to calm her down.""
"Put your hands where I can see them.""
Monica laughed.
"You're not a police officer.""
"No. But they're right outside.""
Her expression changed.
She looked toward the hallway.
My father entered with Detective Bennett and two uniformed officers.
"Step away from the child," the detective ordered.
Monica raised her hands.
"Thank God. Someone sensible has finally arrived.""
Detective Bennett approached the medical tray.
She examined the syringe and the medication bottle.
"Who prescribed this?""
Monica said nothing.
"Mrs. Miller, I'm asking you a question.""
Dr. Cole suddenly appeared in the doorway.
His coat was open, and his hair was disheveled.
"I prescribed it.""
My father turned toward him.
"You're supposed to be in custody.""
"I was released pending further questioning.""
Detective Bennett frowned.
"Nobody informed my department.""
Dr. Cole glanced at Monica.
"She said the child was having another episode.""
Zora shook her head.
"I wasn't.""
I held her closer.
Monica looked at my father.
"Richard, please. We can still fix this.""
He stared at her.
"Fix what?""
"Everything.""
"You kidnapped my daughter.""
"I brought her somewhere safe!""
"You forged my signature.""
"Because you wouldn't listen!""
"You starved her!""
Monica's voice rose.
"Because she was getting too close to the truth!""
The entire room went silent.
Detective Bennett looked directly at her.
"What truth?""
Monica realized what she'd said.
She pressed her lips together.
My father took a step toward her.
"What did you do to Zora?""
Monica backed away.
"Nothing that can't be reversed.""
Those words made my stomach turn.
Detective Bennett instructed an officer to secure the medication.
Then she approached Monica.
"You're under arrest on suspicion of child abduction, forgery, and conspiracy. You have the right to remain silent.""
Monica resisted.
"You can't arrest me! Daniel arranged everything!""
My father froze.
"What did you say?""
She struggled against the officer.
"Daniel told me what to do! He promised I'd get the money!""
Detective Bennett tightened the handcuffs.
"Keep talking.""
Monica began crying.
"He said the trust would be transferred tomorrow. He said Zora only needed to be declared medically unfit, and then everything would be over.""
My father looked at the doctor.
"Is that why you brought the syringe?""
Dr. Cole didn't answer.
Detective Bennett took out her phone.
"Dispatch, we need a warrant for all medical equipment and patient records at this location.""
An officer approached.
"Detective, we found something in the upstairs office.""
"What?""
"A locked cabinet containing several medical files.""
My father followed him.
I stayed with Zora.
She buried her face against my chest.
"Is it over?"" she whispered.
I kissed the top of her head.
"Almost, sweetheart.""
But I knew it wasn't.
Because when my father returned from the office, he was carrying a single photograph.
His face was completely expressionless.
He handed it to Detective Bennett.
The photograph showed Daniel standing outside a courthouse.
Beside him was a young woman holding a baby.
I recognized the woman immediately.
She was Monica's daughter from her first marriage.
But the baby was what made my father go pale.
The date on the photograph was six years old.
And written on the back were the words:
*THE CHILD WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO INHERIT EVERYTHING.*
My father looked at Monica.
"Why is your daughter connected to Zora's trust?""
Monica stopped struggling.
For the first time, she looked genuinely terrified.
Then Dr. Cole spoke.
"Because Zora wasn't the only child Daniel planned to use.""
He pointed toward the photograph.
"Monica's daughter was supposed to be the legal beneficiary if Zora was declared incapable of inheriting.""
My father frowned.
"That isn't possible. The trust was established exclusively for Zora.""
Dr. Cole shook his head.
"Not anymore.""
He reached into his coat and produced another document.
"Daniel filed an amendment six years ago.""
My father snatched it.
At the bottom was my mother's signature.
But my mother had been dead for three days when the amendment was supposedly signed.
Detective Bennett examined the document.
Then she looked at my father.
"Mr. Miller, your brother didn't just forge your signature.""
She pointed to the bottom of the page.
"He forged your wife's signature after she died.""
My father looked at the document.
Then he looked at Zora.
And I understood something terrible.
Daniel hadn't simply wanted money.
He had spent six years constructing a legal trap around an eleven-year-old girl.
A trap that could have taken everything from her without anyone noticing.
My father folded the document carefully.
Then he said four words.
"Find my brother. Now.""
But Daniel was already gone.
May you like
And the bank had confirmed that the six-million-dollar transfer was scheduled for the following morning.
We had less than twelve hours to stop him.
