Chương 13
“Army?”
“No.”
“Police?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“A friend.”
“That sounds suspiciously civilian.”
“He survives it.”
Alexander took out his phone.
The friend was Rebecca Sloan, a digital forensics examiner who had retired from federal service and now consulted for law firms.
She answered on the third ring.
“Hayes.”
“Rebecca.”
“You only call before lunch when something is broken.”
“Something may be.”
“That sentence is why I stopped working for the government.”
Alexander glanced at Claire.
“I have a tablet that may have been configured by someone we do not trust.”
Rebecca’s tone changed immediately.
“Do not touch it.”
“We haven’t.”
“Is it on?”
“Unknown.”
“Connected to Wi-Fi?”
“Possibly.”
“Whose device?”
Alexander looked at Claire.
She nodded.
“A child’s.”
Rebecca became very quiet.
“Do you suspect illegal content?”
“No.”
“Remote access?”
“Possibly.”
“Location tracking?”
“Possibly.”
“That is a lot of possibly.”
“I am aware.”
Rebecca asked for the make and model.
Claire found the information printed on the back without moving the device from the desk.
Rebecca listened.
“Best thing is disconnect the home router if they can tolerate it, document the tablet where it is, and do not start pressing buttons.”
Claire mouthed, “Router?”
Alexander pointed downstairs.
She nodded.
Rebecca continued.
“If there is a credible stalking concern, law enforcement may want the device untouched.”
“Understood.”
“And Alex.”
“Yes?”
“Do not turn yourself into an investigator because you own a serious voice.”
Claire heard that.
She looked down to hide a smile.
Alexander said, “Thank you.”
“I mean it.”
“I heard you.”
“You often hear me and then continue being you.”
Rebecca hung up.
Claire looked at him.
“I like her.”
“Most people do.”
“She’s right.”
“Occasionally.”
“You’re becoming an investigator.”
“I am standing in a child’s bedroom.”
“With your serious voice.”
Alexander looked at the tablet.
“Let’s go downstairs.”
Claire unplugged the router.
Every smart speaker in the house immediately complained.
One announced that it had lost connection.
Claire nearly jumped out of her skin.
Alexander stared at the device.
“This house has too many opinions.”
“Try raising four girls.”
Claire put the router on the kitchen counter.
Then she took photographs of the tablet where it sat in Sophie’s room from several angles, as Rebecca had suggested.
Afterward they sat at the kitchen table.
The quiet returned.
Claire tapped one fingernail against the wood.
“So now what?”
“We document why you were concerned.”
“For police?”
“For yourself first.”
She opened a notebook.
Alexander noticed it was the same one she had used Saturday for a grocery list.
Milk.
Eggs.
Dish soap.
Call plumber.
Now beneath those ordinary entries Claire wrote Richard’s messages and the time she had found the tablet.
She stopped halfway through.
“This feels ridiculous.”
“It will feel less ridiculous if you need it later.”
Claire looked at him.
“You say things like somebody who has filled out a lot of incident reports.”
“I have filled out enough to develop resentment toward pens.”
She wrote another line.
“Do I call the police?”
Alexander folded his hands.
“That depends on what you want from the call.”
“Safety.”
“They may be able to document the contact and advise you about options.”
“You are being very careful.”
“Yes.”
“Because you don’t know local law?”
“Yes.”
“Because you don’t want to scare me?”
“No.”
Claire paused.
“Thank you, I think.”
Her phone vibrated on the table.
Both of them looked at it.
Claire’s body tightened.
The screen showed Emma’s school.
She answered immediately.
“Hello?”
Alexander watched the color leave her face.
“What happened?”
She stood.
“Yes, I’m her mother.”
A pause.
“No, she is not supposed to leave with anyone else.”
Alexander was already on his feet.
Claire gripped the phone.
“What man?”
Another pause.
“When?”
She looked at Alexander.
“He left?”
Her voice cracked.
“Yes.”
“Yes, I’m coming now.”
She ended the call.
“What happened?” Alexander asked.
Claire grabbed her keys.
“A man came to the front office asking to pick up Emma.”
“Mercer?”
“They wouldn’t give me a name.”
“Did he see Emma?”
“No.”
“Did she see him?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire moved toward the door.
Alexander caught his coat.
“I’ll drive.”
“No.”
“Claire.”
“I can drive.”
“Your hands are shaking.”
She looked down.
They were.
“I’m going.”
“So am I.”
Claire stared at him.
Then she threw him the keys.
The school was twelve minutes away.
Alexander made it in eleven without speeding enough to draw attention.
Claire called the front office on speaker while he drove.
The secretary confirmed that a man had arrived around noon claiming there had been a family emergency.
He had asked specifically for Emma Bennett.
When the secretary requested identification and checked the authorized pickup list, he said he had left his wallet in the car.
Then he walked out.
“Did anyone get his license plate?” Claire asked.
“We are checking the exterior cameras.”
“Did you call police?”
“The principal is doing that now.”
“Was it Richard Mercer?”
“I did not speak to him personally, ma’am.”
“Did anyone know him?”
“I don’t know.”
Claire pressed two fingers against her forehead.
“Please keep all four girls in the office until I get there.”
“Of course.”
After she hung up, Alexander said, “Call Emma.”
“I’m not supposed to while she’s in class.”
“Today is not a normal day.”
Claire called.
Emma answered on the second ring.
“Mom?”
Her voice was small.
Claire’s entire posture changed.
“Are you okay?”
“I think so.”
“Where are you?”
“Principal’s office.”
“Are your sisters there?”
“Grace and Lily are coming.”
“Sophie?”
“Her school is calling you.”
Claire closed her eyes.
Sophie attended elementary school at a different campus.
Alexander saw the thought hit her.
One child here.
One child somewhere else.
Someone had tested one school.
Claire’s breathing became shallow.
Alexander spoke without raising his voice.
“Call Sophie’s school now.”
Claire did.
The elementary school secretary answered.
Claire identified herself.
May you like
“I need you to confirm Sophie Bennett is in her classroom and that no one except me is authorized to pick her up.”
Keyboard sounds came through the speaker.
