“Dad, Can She Eat With Us?”—Then the Single Dad Did Something Nobody Expected
Chapter 8
They escaped the chapel through a side door.
A black vehicle followed them.
Daniel drove faster.
Emily sat in the back.
The police tried to intercept.
The vehicle disappeared into the countryside.
Daniel returned to the safe house.
The hard drive was now the most dangerous object in the county.
He contacted a federal investigator outside the local system.
The investigator listened.
Then said:
“You have enough evidence to bring down half the operation.”
Daniel exhaled.
“Can you protect us?”
“Yes.”
“When?”
“Now.”
Two hours later, federal agents arrived.
For the first time, Daniel relaxed.
But only for a moment.
The investigator showed him a photograph.
Sarah.
Alive.
Taken two days earlier.
Daniel’s heart stopped.
“Where?”
“An industrial facility outside the city.”
“Can we get her?”
“We’re working on it.”
“No.”
The investigator looked at him.
“She saved my life once.”
“She saved Emily.”
“And I won’t sit here while she’s still out there.”
The investigator sighed.
“You’re going to make this difficult.”
Daniel smiled.
“Probably.”
They planned the operation.
The facility was empty on paper.
But satellite images showed movement.
Daniel, federal agents, and a tactical team entered before dawn.
They found records.
Computers.
Boxes.
And several frightened employees who had been hiding.
But Sarah wasn’t there.
Then they found a locked room.
Inside was a chair.
A blanket.
A photograph of Emily.
And a note.
She was moved yesterday.
Daniel’s heart sank.
The investigator opened another file.
The transfer had been authorized by Richard Vale.
But a second name appeared.
One Daniel recognized.
Martin Blake.
The investigator looked at him.
“They know we’re close.”
Daniel nodded.
Then his phone rang.
Unknown number.
“Hello?”
A woman’s voice.
“Daniel.”
He froze.
“Sarah?”
“Yes.”
He couldn’t breathe.
“Where are you?”
“I can’t tell you.”
“Are you safe?”
A pause.
“No.”
“Tell me what to do.”
“Bring Emily.”
Daniel looked at the girl.
Sarah continued:
“Not to the police.”
“Why?”
“Because the person helping them is there.”
Daniel felt cold.
“What person?”
“The one you trust most.”
The call ended.
Daniel stared at the phone.
The federal investigator asked:
“What happened?”
Daniel said:
“She wants Emily.”
The investigator shook his head.
“No.”
Daniel looked at him.
“She says the person inside our team is compromised.”
Nobody spoke.
Everyone looked at one another.
Then one agent quietly moved his hand toward his weapon.
Daniel realized they were all suddenly suspicious.
He took Emily’s hand.
“Stay with me.”
They left through the rear exit.
No one noticed that one agent stayed behind.
That agent called Richard Vale.
“They escaped.”
Richard answered:
“Good.”
A pause.
“Then bring the girl to me.”
