Chapter 7 - The Other Children
Laura recognized one family name immediately.
"The Harpers."
Daniel frowned.
"Who?"
"Three years ago, their son was sent to a residential program after a brutal custody fight. His grandmother controlled a trust. The money disappeared into treatment fees."
Dr. Malcolm Rusk.
Same consulting company.
Reed Behavioral Holdings.
Different stepmother.
Different lawyer.
"Claire brought me a statement two weeks ago," she said. "She said Sophie had told her things at school and I needed to confirm them."
"Did Sophie tell you she was afraid of me?" Daniel asked.
"No. She told me she didn't like being alone with Claire."
Daniel closed his eyes.
Melissa continued.
"I refused to sign. Marcus came to my apartment last night."
Ortiz leaned forward.
"They don't just create evidence. They create fear around anyone who challenges it."
Melissa nodded.
"There's a former Brightwood nurse. Ava Brooks. She contacted me after I asked questions."
"Where is she?"
"I don't know. She said records were being altered after children arrived."
Daniel looked at Sophie through the interview-room glass. She was coloring beside a child advocate.
"What kind of records?"
Melissa's voice dropped.
"Incident reports. Medication logs. Parent-contact notes."
"Why?"
"To make kids look worse than they were."
Daniel's hands curled.
Laura touched his arm.
"Stay with us."
He forced himself to breathe.
Ortiz received a message from the lab.
The bottle from Sophie's drawer contained the same sedating medication found in her blood.
Fingerprints: Claire and Marcus.
Then another officer entered.
"We located Marcus's vehicle."
"Where?"
"Brightwood Family Center."
Ortiz stood.
"Finally."
The officer did not move.
"There's a problem."
"What?"
"The center is empty."
Every current resident had been moved overnight.
Computers were gone.
Files were burned in metal trash bins behind the building.
But one security camera had not been removed.
It showed Marcus loading boxes into a van.
Beside him stood Claire.
Daniel stared at the time stamp.
Claire was supposed to be in custody when the video was recorded.
Ortiz checked the booking system.
May you like
Claire had posted bond forty-three minutes earlier.
And no one had told Daniel.
