Chapter 27
Lily leaned closer to him. “Daddy told him before he died.”
Dr. Patel spoke gently. “Owen told Lily this morning that Captain has a secret pocket.”
Elise’s gaze snapped to the bear.
I kept my face calm.
“May I see?” I asked.
Owen hugged Captain.
“No one takes him.”
“No one takes him,” I said. “You can hold him the whole time.”
His fingers trembled as he turned the bear around. Beneath the green ribbon, along a seam at the back, was a small line of stitching slightly different from the rest. Not torn. Not obvious. Hidden by someone who knew how to mend fabric.
Lily reached into her sweater pocket and pulled out a tiny plastic zipper tab.
“Daddy gave me this,” she said. “He said it was for Captain’s coat, but Claire threw Captain once and it came off, so I hid it.”
My mouth went dry.
Maya nodded to me. “Slowly.”
With Owen holding the bear firmly, Lily guided the zipper tab into a nearly invisible track beneath the seam.
It opened.
Inside was a narrow pocket.
And inside that pocket was a folded piece of paper wrapped around a small silver flash drive.
No one spoke.
Owen looked terrified.
I looked at him first, not the drive.
“You did nothing wrong.”
He nodded, but his chin shook.
Elise put on gloves before touching anything. Carefully, she unfolded the paper.
There were only six words on the outside.
In Evan Bennett’s handwriting.
If I disappear, find Ryker Steel.
The room tilted.
Elise turned the paper over.
There was more writing inside, cramped and hurried.
Ryker,
May you like
If this reaches you, I failed to keep the storm away from my children. I found something connected to Anna, Claire, and the accounts I once warned you about. It is not what it looks like. The children are not safe with anyone who benefits from my silence.
Trust Nathan if he comes clean.
