Call the county dispatcher.
There is a missing-child report.
There is a court order granting me sole custody.”
“Show it to us,” Bell said.
Victor reached slowly into his coat and produced a folded document.
Bell took it, read the first page, and frowned.
“This is a temporary emergency order.”
“Which is still an order.”
“It was issued yesterday afternoon based on an affidavit claiming Anna Vale was hospitalized and incapable of caring for the child.”
Victor’s mouth tightened.
Daniel reopened the laptop.
Anna’s image remained frozen on-screen, sitting upright in a hospital bed beside a federal prosecutor.
The newspaper in her hand was dated three days after Victor’s affidavit claimed she had become incoherent and unresponsive.
“That appears inconsistent,” Daniel said.
Victor took one step toward the table.
Russell’s hand settled on his holster.
“Don’t,” the officer warned.
The word was quiet, but it stopped Victor.
Evelyn asked Daniel to resume the recording.
Anna’s face moved again.
“The original is in the Harlo First National vault,” she said.
“And the only person authorized to open it is my daughter, Lily Vale, with Daniel Mercer acting as temporary trustee if I am unable to appear.”
Lily looked at Daniel.
He felt the weight of the sentence before he understood its legal shape.
Anna continued.
“Victor believes the envelope contains only financial records.
It does not.
It contains my sworn testimony, the original patent assignments, medical reports, audio recordings, and a copy of the agreement he forced me to sign after Lily was born.
He also believes he destroyed the security footage from the lake house.
He did not.”
Victor’s face drained of color.
Then he recovered.
“A recording can be fabricated.”
Anna kept speaking from the laptop.
“He will say this video is fabricated.
The federal prosecutor beside me is Mara Chen.
She has verified my identity, the date, and the chain of custody for every item described.”
The woman beside Anna leaned into frame and stated her name, office, badge number, date, and time.
She explained that Anna’s testimony was being preserved under federal witness procedures and that local law enforcement encountering Lily should contact her office immediately.
Sergeant Bell took out his phone.
Victor turned toward him.
“You do not need to make that call.”
Bell looked up.
The sentence hung in the room.
Not a request.
An order from a man accustomed to being obeyed.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Bell asked.
Victor glanced at Lily, then Daniel, then the broken window.
“Because Anna Vale is manipulating all of you.
She has been obsessed with revenge for years.
Daniel knows that.
Ask him what happened between them.”
Every eye shifted to Daniel.
Victor smiled faintly, sensing an opening.
“He hasn’t told you, has he? Anna helped build his company.
