Chapter 7: The Woman Tied to the Chair
Grandpa read the message three times.
Then he looked at me.
"Lily, where is your bell?""
I immediately pressed my hand against my chest.
"It's here.""
"Good. Don't give it to anyone. Not even if they ask nicely.""
The police officer took out his radio.
"Detective Collins, we have a location. The old warehouse on Miller Street.""
A voice crackled through the speaker.
"Do not approach the building. We have units moving toward you.""
Grandpa grabbed his coat.
"I'm coming.""
"Mr. Whitmore, absolutely not.""
"That woman has my granddaughter's father.""
"And we're going to handle it.""
Grandpa looked at the photograph again.
Vanessa was tied to a chair.
Her hair was disheveled, and there was a dark mark on her forehead.
But she was alive.
I tugged at Grandpa's sleeve.
"Is Daddy going to hurt her?""
He looked down.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"He's not supposed to hurt people.""
Grandpa knelt.
"You're right.""
He gently straightened my collar.
"That's why we're going to make sure nobody gets hurt.""
The officer approached.
"Mr. Whitmore, I need you to stay here with your granddaughter.""
Grandpa shook his head.
"I'm not leaving her alone.""
The officer considered that.
"Then you'll come with us, but you must follow every instruction.""
Grandpa nodded.
I climbed into the back of the police vehicle.
The little gold bell rested in my lap.
I couldn't stop looking at it.
Every few seconds, I touched the red ribbon.
Mommy had told me it would always help her find me.
Now I needed it to help me find Daddy.
The warehouse stood near the edge of the industrial district.
It was an old brick building with broken windows and a rusted metal sign.
Police vehicles surrounded the street.
Detective Collins approached our car.
"Mr. Whitmore, we've established a perimeter.""
"Have you seen David?""
"Not yet.""
"Then how do you know he's inside?""
The detective showed him the photograph again.
"The image was sent from a disposable phone. We traced the signal to this location.""
Grandpa looked toward the building.
"Vanessa?""
"Still alive, according to the image.""
"Can we hear her?""
The detective shook his head.
"Not yet.""
I climbed down from the vehicle.
Grandpa immediately took my hand.
A policewoman crouched beside me.
"Hello, Lily. Would you like to stay with me while the grown-ups talk?""
I shook my head.
"I want Grandpa.""
She smiled.
"That's fine.""
Then a loud metallic bang came from inside the warehouse.
Everyone turned.
A second bang followed.
Detective Collins raised his hand.
"Nobody moves.""
A voice echoed from inside.
"STAY BACK!""
It was Daddy.
I recognized his voice immediately.
"Daddy!""
Grandpa caught my shoulder.
"Lily, wait.""
I pulled away slightly.
"Daddy!""
The warehouse fell silent.
Then I heard something crash.
A moment later, the metal door opened.
Daddy appeared.
His shirt was untucked.
There was blood on his forehead.
He looked exhausted.
Behind him, I could see Vanessa sitting in a chair with her wrists tied.
Daddy raised both hands when he saw the police.
"Don't shoot.""
Detective Collins approached.
"David, step outside.""
Daddy looked toward me.
His expression changed.
"Lily?""
I ran toward him.
The detective tried to stop me, but Grandpa nodded.
"Let her.""
Daddy dropped to his knees.
I threw my arms around his neck.
He held me tightly.
"I'm sorry, sweetheart.""
I touched his forehead.
"You're bleeding.""
"It's nothing.""
"Did Vanessa hurt you?""
He closed his eyes.
"No.""
"Did you hurt Vanessa?""
He looked over my shoulder.
Then he answered honestly.
"I wanted to.""
I pulled back.
"But you didn't?""
"No.""
He kissed my hair.
"Because I remembered what you said.""
I didn't know what to say.
The police officers moved past us.
Detective Collins ordered Daddy to step away from the building.
Then they entered to release Vanessa.
Vanessa was pale.
Her wrists were red from the restraints, and her expensive coat was torn.
When she saw me, she began crying.
"Lily!""
I stepped behind Grandpa.
Vanessa stretched out her hand.
"Sweetheart, please. Tell them your father kidnapped me.""
I looked at Daddy.
He didn't say anything.
The detective crouched beside Vanessa.
"Mrs. Carter, we're going to take you to the hospital for examination.""
Vanessa shook her head.
"He's dangerous! He brought me here!""
Daddy's jaw tightened.
"Tell them why you were here.""
Vanessa glared at him.
"You're insane.""
"Tell them about Mark.""
Her expression changed.
Grandpa noticed.
"Who is Mark?""
Vanessa looked away.
Daddy stepped forward.
"Mark Ellis. Your cousin.""
She remained silent.
"Tell them why he was wearing my coat.""
Vanessa suddenly screamed.
"Because you gave it to him!""
Daddy stared.
"What?""
"You gave him everything! Your passwords, your documents, your identification!""
"That's a lie.""
"You told him to help you!""
The detective raised his hand.
"Enough. We'll discuss this at the station.""
Vanessa began crying again.
But before the officers could escort her away, she turned toward me.
"Lily, don't let them take me!""
I looked at her.
She had taken my dress.
She had stolen my mother's bell.
She had put me outside in the snow.
And now she wanted me to save her.
I looked down at the bell.
Then I looked at her.
"You should have given my bell back.""
Her face went still.
The officers led her away.
Daddy was taken to the police station for questioning.
Grandpa and I waited in the car.
For nearly an hour, neither of us spoke.
Then I asked something that had been bothering me.
"Grandpa?""
"Yes?""
"Did Daddy really kill Mommy?""
Grandpa looked at the road.
"I don't know, sweetheart.""
"But the doctor said he changed the medicine.""
"She said she saw a man who looked like him.""
"Was it Daddy?""
He took a slow breath.
"That's what we need to find out.""
I looked at the bell.
"Can Mommy tell us?""
Grandpa smiled sadly.
"Not anymore.""
I touched the tiny scratch.
"Then why did she leave us all these things?""
He looked at me.
"Because she knew someone might try to hide the truth.""
Detective Collins finally came outside.
He opened the passenger door.
"Mr. Whitmore, David has agreed to provide a formal statement.""
Grandpa nodded.
"Is he coming home?""
The detective hesitated.
"Not tonight.""
I looked up.
"Why?""
He crouched beside the car.
"Lily, your father needs to answer some important questions.""
"Did he do something bad?""
The detective chose his words carefully.
"We're trying to find out.""
I nodded.
Then I asked:
"Can I see him?""
The detective glanced at Grandpa.
"Briefly.""
Daddy sat in a small interview room.
His hands were folded on the table.
When I entered, he stood immediately.
"Hi, sweetheart.""
I walked toward him.
He knelt.
"Are you all right?""
I nodded.
"Are you?""
He smiled weakly.
"I will be.""
I showed him the bell.
"Grandpa says Mommy left clues.""
Daddy looked at it.
"She always was clever.""
"Why did you go to the warehouse?""
He lowered his eyes.
"Because Vanessa contacted me.""
"What did she say?""
"She said she had something that belonged to your mother.""
"What?""
"A recording.""
I looked at him.
"Did you find it?""
Daddy shook his head.
"No.""
"Then why did you take her there?""
He took a breath.
"Because she said she would destroy it unless I came alone.""
I frowned.
"Was it bad?""
He nodded.
"Possibly.""
Then he reached into his pocket.
He removed a small folded photograph.
It showed Mommy standing beside a hospital bed.
Daddy was beside her.
I looked at the photograph.
"Where did you get this?""
"Vanessa had it.""
I examined the image.
Mommy was holding a piece of paper.
Daddy was standing beside the bed.
But there was another person in the reflection of the window.
A man.
Wearing a white coat.
I looked closer.
There was a gold ring on his little finger.
The same ring Grandpa had shown us.
I looked at Daddy.
"Who is that?""
He took the photograph.
His expression changed.
"I don't know.""
I pointed toward the reflection.
"Grandpa has that ring.""
Daddy went completely still.
Then he whispered:
"Oh, my God.""
He turned the photograph over.
On the back, in my mother's handwriting, were four words.
*Richard knows everything.*
Daddy looked at me.
Then he stood.
"Detective Collins!""
The door opened.
"What's wrong?""
Daddy held up the photograph.
"I need you to investigate Richard Whitmore.""
The detective frowned.
"Why?""
Daddy looked at the picture again.
"Because I think my father-in-law was at the hospital that night.""
May you like
He paused.
"And I think he has been lying to us for seven years.""
