My Neighbor Asked Me to Watch Her Daughter for One Hour… She Didn’t Come Back Until Sunrise
Chapter 4
Daniel had never understood how quickly an ordinary night could become a nightmare.
One moment he was helping his daughter with a school project.
The next, his basement was filled with secrets involving a missing man, a powerful corporation, and a little girl someone apparently wanted badly enough to break into a stranger’s home.
Marcus moved quickly.
“Is there another exit?”
“Through the garage.”
“Then we go.”
Daniel shook his head.
“My daughter is upstairs.”
“We take her.”
“What about Sophie?”
“She comes too.”
They climbed the stairs.
The living room was empty.
The front door stood open.
Daniel’s stomach dropped.
He had locked it.
Marcus noticed.
“They’re already inside.”
Daniel grabbed Lily from upstairs.
“Put your shoes on.”
She looked frightened.
“What’s happening?”
“We’re going to a friend’s house.”
“Which friend?”
“Just move.”
Sophie clutched her rabbit.
They hurried through the kitchen.
A noise came from the hallway.
Marcus raised one finger.
Everyone stopped.
Footsteps.
Daniel recognized them.
Someone was coming.
Marcus pushed the children into a pantry.
“Stay here.”
He stepped into the hallway.
A man appeared.
Marcus struck him before he could speak.
The man fell.
Daniel stared.
“Who is he?”
Marcus searched his pockets.
A company identification card.
Hawthorne Security Division.
Daniel felt sick.
“These people work for Hawthorne?”
Marcus nodded.
“We don’t have time.”
They escaped through the garage.
Daniel got the children into his old Ford Explorer.
Marcus climbed into the passenger seat.
Daniel started the engine.
The garage door opened.
They pulled out.
Behind them, another vehicle turned onto the street.
“Drive,” Marcus said.
Daniel accelerated.
The SUV followed.
“Where are we going?”
“Your brother’s house?”
“I don’t have a brother.”
“Police?”
“Can’t trust them.”
Marcus looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because Hawthorne has people everywhere.”
Daniel’s jaw tightened.
“How do you know?”
Marcus stared through the windshield.
“Because I used to be one of them.”
Daniel looked over.
“What?”
“I worked security for Hawthorne.”
The SUV behind them gained speed.
Marcus continued.
“Three years ago, I was assigned to Evan Bennett.”
“Assigned to do what?”
“Watch him.”
Daniel’s hands tightened around the steering wheel.
“You knew him?”
“Yes.”
“What happened?”
Marcus didn’t answer immediately.
Then he said:
“He found evidence that Hawthorne was illegally dumping chemical waste near rural communities.”
Daniel glanced at him.
“And?”
“Evan wanted to expose them.”
“So they killed him?”
“I don’t know.”
“But you think they did.”
“I think they tried.”
Daniel looked at Sophie through the rearview mirror.
She was asleep against Lily’s shoulder.
“Why would they want Sophie?”
Marcus’s face hardened.
“Because Evan left something behind.”
“The drive?”
“No.”
“What then?”
Marcus looked at the girls.
“Her.”
Daniel frowned.
“What?”
“Sophie.”
Daniel shook his head.
“She was six months old.”
Marcus nodded.
“And she was present when Evan discovered the evidence.”
“That makes no sense.”
“It will.”
The SUV suddenly rammed the back of Daniel’s Explorer.
Lily screamed.
Daniel swerved.
“Hold on!”
The SUV hit them again.
Marcus grabbed the dashboard.
“Turn left!”
Daniel turned sharply onto a narrow country road.
Trees swallowed the headlights.
The pursuing SUV followed.
Daniel pushed the accelerator.
His tires slid over wet pavement.
Then—
A gunshot.
The rear window exploded.
Lily screamed.
Daniel ducked.
Marcus reached backward.
“Get down!”
Another shot.
Daniel kept driving.
Ahead, a railroad crossing appeared.
The warning lights began flashing.
A freight train approached.
Marcus shouted:
“Stop!”
Daniel slammed the brakes.
The Explorer skidded.
The train thundered across the road.
The pursuing SUV stopped on the other side.
For several seconds, the train blocked both vehicles.
Daniel breathed heavily.
Marcus looked at him.
“Now.”
They turned down a dirt road.
Five minutes later, Daniel stopped beside an abandoned barn.
Everyone climbed out.
Marcus looked at Sophie.
“She needs to wake up.”
Daniel frowned.
“Why?”
Marcus crouched beside her.
“Because her mother left her something.”
Sophie opened her eyes.
Marcus pulled out the photograph.
“Do you remember this building?”
Sophie stared.
Then her eyes widened.
“I’ve been there.”
Daniel froze.
“You have?”
Sophie nodded.
“Mom took me there last year.”
“Why?”
Sophie looked toward Marcus.
Then whispered:
“To see Daddy.”
Silence.
Daniel stared at her.
Marcus slowly stood.
“Evan Bennett is alive.”
