Daniel remained silent.
Riley turned the envelope over.
A small symbol had been drawn on the back.
Three circles.
One line through the center.
Daniel recognized it immediately.
It was the mark Michael Bennett had used on his private investigative files.
Riley looked toward Miller.
"Get this to evidence."
Daniel raised his voice.
"No."
Riley smiled.
"You're not in a position to give orders."
"That envelope is not yours."
"Everything recovered inside this station is subject to police procedure."
"Then follow procedure. Photograph it, log it, and preserve the chain of custody."
Riley looked at him.
"You're suddenly very interested in procedure."
Daniel said nothing.
Riley slipped the envelope inside his jacket.
Daniel's eyes narrowed.
"You just contaminated evidence."
Riley leaned closer.
"Prove it."
For several seconds, the two men stared at each other.
Then a phone rang.
It was the desk clerk's phone.
Emily answered.
"County Police Department."
She listened.
Her expression changed.
"Yes, sir."
A pause.
"He's here."
She glanced at Daniel.
Then toward Riley.
"Understood."
She hung up.
Riley looked at her.
"Who was that?"
Emily swallowed.
"Captain Harris."
Riley's face changed.
"What did he want?"
Emily hesitated.
"He's on his way."
Daniel looked at the boy.
Noah was still struggling to understand what was happening.
"Mr. Morgan," he whispered.
Daniel looked at him.
"Yes?"
"Are they going to help my mom now?"
Daniel looked toward the envelope inside Riley's jacket.
Then toward the front doors.
He knew the answer.
Not yet.
And perhaps not ever.
But he would not allow the boy to hear that.
"Yes," he said quietly.
"We're going to find her."
THE MAN WHO DISAPPEARED SEVEN YEARS AGO
Twenty minutes later, Captain Jonathan Harris entered the station.
He was a tall man in his early fifties, with a heavy build and a carefully trimmed gray beard.
He wore a dark police uniform.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
He looked at Daniel in handcuffs.
Then at Noah.
Then at Riley.
"What happened?"
Riley answered immediately.
"Subject entered the station, interfered with an investigation, assaulted an officer, and attempted to remove evidence."
Harris looked at Daniel.
"Is that accurate?"
Daniel said nothing.
Harris approached.
"Mr. Morgan, I've heard of you."
Daniel looked at him.
"I doubt that."
Harris smiled.
"You're a difficult man to work with."
"So I've been told."
Harris looked toward the reception desk.
"Where's the evidence?"
Riley reached into his jacket and produced the blue envelope.
Harris took it.
Daniel's eyes followed the movement.
"Captain."
Harris looked up.
"Yes?"
"That envelope must be preserved exactly as it was recovered."
Harris glanced at the writing.
"Of course."
"Do not open it."
Harris smiled faintly.
"Why not?"
"Because the person who wrote it specifically instructed that it be opened in my presence."
Harris looked at Noah.
"Did you tell him that?"
Noah nodded.
"My mom said he had to see it."
Harris crouched.
"What's your mother's name, son?"
"Sarah Bennett."
Harris's expression remained neutral.
"Sarah Bennett."
He stood.
"Riley, take the boy to the family room. Get him something to eat."
Noah immediately backed away.
"No!"
Harris looked at him.
"What's wrong?"
"I want my mom!"
"We're going to help her."
Noah shook his head.
"You're lying."
The words struck the room.
Harris looked at the boy.
Then at Riley.
"Why would he say that?"
Riley shrugged.
"He's been difficult since he arrived."
Noah pointed at him.
"Because he knows where she is!"
Silence.
Harris slowly turned toward Riley.
"Is that true?"
Riley's expression hardened.
"Absolutely not."
Daniel watched the exchange.
Something was wrong.
Harris was pretending to investigate.
Riley was pretending to be offended.
And both men were waiting for the other to make a mistake.
Daniel looked at the missing-person wall.
At Sarah's photograph.
At the date.
Then he understood another detail.
The photograph had been placed over an older notice.
A corner of the paper beneath it was visible.
A different name.
A different photograph.
Daniel turned his head slightly.
He could barely read the letters.
MICHAEL BENNETT.
He stared.
The missing-person notice for Noah's father had been covered by the notice for his mother.
Why?
He looked toward Emily.
She had noticed him looking.
Her face became pale.
Daniel gave her a small nod.
She looked away.
Then, while everyone was focused on Harris, Emily quietly opened a drawer beneath the counter.
She removed a small white card.
And placed it beside Noah's paper cup.
THE NUMBER ON THE CARD
Noah noticed the card.
He looked around.
Nobody seemed to be watching him.
He picked it up.
There was a phone number written on it.
And three words:
CALL FROM OUTSIDE.
Noah looked toward Emily.
She did not meet his eyes.
He slipped the card into his pocket.
Then Harris spoke.
"Mr. Morgan, I want to understand something."
Daniel looked at him.
"Go ahead."
"Why were you looking for Sarah Bennett?"
"I wasn't."
"Then why did you come here?"
"Because Noah asked for help."
Harris nodded slowly.
"And how do you know this child?"
Daniel hesitated.
"His father was an investigator."
"Was?"
"Michael Bennett."
Harris's expression changed.
Only slightly.
But Daniel noticed.
"Ah," Harris said.
"You're familiar with him?"
"Of course."
"What happened to him?"
Harris looked toward the missing-person wall.
"His case was investigated."
"And closed."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Evidence suggested he left voluntarily."
Daniel smiled faintly.
"Evidence."
Harris nodded.
"That's what we have."
"Do you know what happened to the original evidence?"
Harris's eyes narrowed.
"What are you implying?"
"I'm asking a question."
"Then ask a better one."
Daniel leaned forward.
"Who authorized the destruction of Michael Bennett's investigation file?"
Harris did not answer.
Daniel continued.
"Who removed the original witness statement?"
"That's enough."
"Who changed the time of his last recorded phone call?"
Harris stepped closer.
"You're under arrest, Mr. Morgan. You don't get to interrogate me."
Daniel looked at him.
"Then perhaps you should stop answering."
Harris turned toward Riley.
"Take him downstairs."
Riley nodded.
Miller approached Daniel.
Noah suddenly grabbed Daniel's sleeve.