But Daniel was standing near the office door.
He had heard everything.
"You can't trust Walker," Daniel said.
Michael turned.
"And why should I trust you?"
Daniel didn't answer immediately.
Then he removed his badge and placed it on the desk.
"Because I know what happened to Sarah."
Evelyn stood up.
"Then tell us."
Daniel took a deep breath.
"Sarah didn't disappear because she had stolen documents. She disappeared because she discovered that Thomas was selling children."
Nobody spoke.
Daniel continued.
"The Black Harbor Group was using its connections to alter birth records, arrange illegal adoptions, and move children through private medical facilities. Some of the children belonged to families who had no idea what was happening."
Evelyn covered her mouth.
"How many?"
"At least seventeen cases were identified in the original investigation."
Michael looked at the documents.
"Was Lily one of them?"
Daniel nodded.
"But Sarah refused to let them take her."
He looked toward Lily.
"Your mother hid you with Evelyn. She changed your identity because Thomas wanted to use your birth records to control her."
Lily looked confused.
"Why would someone want to take me?"
Daniel knelt in front of her.
"Because your mother had evidence that could expose everything. They believed that keeping you close would force her to remain silent."
Evelyn's voice became cold.
"And you helped them."
Daniel looked at her.
"Yes."
There was no excuse.
No explanation.
Just one word.
Eleanor stepped forward.
"Then why should we believe you now?"
Daniel removed a second phone from his pocket.
"Because I have a recording Victoria doesn't know exists."
He played it.
Victoria's voice filled the office.
"Thomas, the child is the priority. Sarah has already caused enough problems."
Thomas answered.
"What about Evelyn?"
"Let her believe her daughter is dead. She'll eventually stop searching."
"And Daniel?"
Victoria laughed.
"Daniel will do whatever I tell him. He always has."
The recording continued.
Then Victoria said something that changed Daniel's expression.
"Once the girl is recovered, we eliminate everyone connected to the original investigation."
Michael stopped the recording.
"They're planning to kill us."
Daniel nodded.
"Tonight."
Suddenly, the lights in the office flickered.
A car horn sounded outside.
Then a loud explosion shook the building.
Everyone rushed toward the window.
A black vehicle was burning across the street.
A second later, gunshots echoed from the entrance.
Michael pushed Lily behind the desk.
"Get down!"
The front door shattered.
Three armed men entered.
Daniel drew his weapon.
Evelyn pulled Lily into the storage room.
Michael grabbed the evidence.
For several minutes, the office became a battlefield.
Daniel managed to disarm one attacker, while Eleanor knocked another against a filing cabinet.
The third man escaped through the rear exit.
When the shooting stopped, the office was destroyed.
Daniel was bleeding from his shoulder.
Michael rushed toward him.
"Are you okay?"
Daniel nodded weakly.
"Get the girl out of here."
Evelyn looked at him.
"Why are you helping us?"
Daniel stared at Lily.
"Because I promised her mother I would protect her."
He closed his eyes.
"And this time, I'm going to keep that promise."
At 8:40 p.m., Michael received a message from an unknown number.
It contained a location and a photograph.
The photograph showed a small farmhouse surrounded by trees.
Beneath it were six words:
YOUR DAUGHTER IS WAITING FOR YOU.
Evelyn stared at the screen.
"That's where Sarah is."
Michael examined the location.
It was an abandoned property outside Westbridge, approximately forty miles from the city.
"How do we know this isn't a trap?" Eleanor asked.
"We don't," Michael replied.
Daniel stood up, despite the pain in his shoulder.
"I'm coming."
Evelyn looked at him.
"You've done enough."
"I know."
"Then why are you still here?"
Daniel looked at Lily.
"Because she deserves to meet her mother."
The journey took nearly an hour.
They traveled in two vehicles to avoid being followed.
Michael drove with Lily and Eleanor, while Evelyn traveled with Daniel.
Nobody spoke much.
Lily kept looking out of the window.
She had imagined meeting her mother countless times.
Sometimes, in her dreams, Sarah appeared wearing a beautiful white dress.
Other times, she imagined her mother standing at the school gate, waiting to take her home.
Now the possibility was real.
But she was afraid.
"What if she doesn't recognize me?" Lily asked.
Eleanor turned toward her.
"She will."
"What if she doesn't want me?"
Eleanor gently touched her cheek.
"Your mother never stopped loving you."
Lily looked down.
"Then why didn't she come back?"
Eleanor struggled to answer.
"Sometimes people are trapped by things they cannot control."
When they reached the farmhouse, the sky was already dark.
The front door stood slightly open.
Michael approached first.
"Sarah?"
No answer.
He pushed the door.
Inside, the house was almost empty.
There was a small table, two chairs, and a photograph on the wall.
It showed Sarah holding a newborn baby.
Lily immediately recognized the baby.
It was her.
She walked closer.
"That's me."
Evelyn began crying.