Chapter 3 - The Shadow in the Alley
The rain began to fall in heavy, slanted sheets as Daniel drove his silver sedan through the dark, slick streets of the industrial district. His windshield wipers slapped violently back and forth, cutting through the reflections of neon street signs and amber traffic lights.
His phone sat mounted on the dashboard, displaying a pulsing red dot that marked Maya’s signal—or rather, the signal of Vance’s operative who was tailing her from two blocks behind.
"Where is she heading?" Daniel shouted into the speakerphone over the roar of the rain.
"She’s heading back toward the plaza," Vance reported over the static-filled line. "Near St. Augustine. She’s moving fast, Daniel. She looks terrified."
"What about the van?"
"It’s trailing her at low speed with its lights off," Vance said grimly. "My guy tried to get a license plate, but it’s covered in mud. Whoever is driving that vehicle knows how to evade surveillance. Daniel, this isn't a random runaway situation. Someone wants that girl."
Daniel smashed his foot against the accelerator. The sedan's engine roared, surging through a yellow light at 5th Street.
Why would anyone target an eleven-year-old homeless orphan? What value could she possibly have to men driving unmarked vans in the dead of night?
Ten minutes later, Daniel pulled up to the perimeter of the plaza near the academy. The area was completely deserted at night. The high oak trees cast long, writhing shadows across the wet stone walkways, and the rusted benches where Ethan had sat earlier were slick with rain.
Daniel cut his headlights and killed the engine.
He grabbed a heavy metal flashlight from his glove box and stepped out into the downpour. The rain soaked through his wool coat within seconds, but he barely noticed the cold.
He crept along the outer hedge of the plaza, his eyes scanning the gloom.
Then he heard it.
A sharp slap of footsteps against wet stone, followed by a smothered gasp.
"Get back here, kid!" a harsh, raspy voice growled from the darkness near the fountain.
Daniel snapped his flashlight on, throwing a bright beam of white light across the courtyard.
The beam illuminated a terrifying scene.
Maya Lin was cornered against the base of a bronze statue, her navy backpack lying on the ground beside her. Standing five feet from her was a tall man in a dark canvas jacket and a baseball cap pulled low over his face. Behind him, parked on the pedestrian walkway with its motor idling, was the black van.
The man turned sharply, shielding his eyes against the intense beam of Daniel’s flashlight.
"Who the hell are you?" the man spat, reaching inside his canvas jacket with a movement that was instinctively dangerous. "Get that light out of my face!"
"Leave the girl alone!" Daniel shouted, stepping forward, keeping the light pinned on the man’s face. "I've already called the police. They’re two blocks away!"
The man sneered, pulling his hand out from his jacket. He didn't pull a gun—instead, he held a dark leather folder stamped with a legal seal.
"Save your breath, pal," the man growled, stepping toward Maya and grabbing her roughly by the upper arm. The girl let out a piercing shriek, thrashing against his grip. "This kid is a fleeing ward of the state. We’re private transport officers hired by her legal conservator. Now step back before I cite you for interference!"
"No! He’s lying!" Maya screamed, her voice cracking with terror as she kicked at the man’s shins. "I don't have a conservator! My mother never signed anything! He tried to take my mother's notebook!"
Daniel froze. My mother's notebook.
The man yanked Maya forcefully toward the open side door of the van. The second man inside the vehicle leaned out, reaching down to grab her arms.
"Hey!" Daniel roared.
He didn't think. The corporate executive, the cautious businessman, vanished. Daniel sprinted across the wet stone, swinging the heavy aluminum flashlight with all his force.
The solid metal casing struck the man in the shoulder with a heavy thud.
The man grunted in pain, his grip slipping from Maya’s arm. She fell to the wet pavement, scrambling backward like a cat.
"Get in the car!" Daniel shouted at Maya, pointing toward his sedan idling forty feet away. "Run!"
Maya didn't hesitate. She scrambled to her feet, grabbed her backpack from the puddle, and sprinted toward Daniel’s car.
The man in the canvas jacket recovered quickly, lunging at Daniel with a snarl. He swung a heavy fist that grazed Daniel’s cheekbone, sending Daniel stumbling backward onto the wet grass.
"You just made a fatal mistake, Carter!" the man hissed, stepping toward him.
Daniel’s mind spun. He knows my name.
Before the man could strike again, the sharp wail of police sirens echoed from down the avenue. Vance’s operative had called in a real emergency response.
The driver inside the black van yelled, "Vince! Leave him! The cops are turning onto 4th!"
The man in the canvas jacket cursed, glared at Daniel with pure hatred, turned, and dove into the sliding side door of the van. The vehicle screeched its tires, mounted the curb, and sped away into the dark night.
Daniel lay on the grass for three seconds, gasping for air, the rain pouring down onto his face.
He stood up, wiping mud from his coat, and ran back to his sedan.
Maya was huddled in the passenger seat, shaking violently, clutching her wet backpack against her chest like a shield.
Daniel closed the driver's door, locked all four doors, and looked at the terrified girl beside him.
"Are you hurt?" he asked, his voice trembling as he turned on the heater.
Maya stared at him with wide, tear-filled hazel eyes, her teeth chattering uncontrollably. "You... you're Ethan’s dad," she whispered.
May you like
Daniel paused, looking at her clean, fierce, stubborn face.
"Yes," Daniel said softly. "I'm Ethan’s dad. And you’re going to tell me everything."
