"Daniel, what have you found?"
Daniel looked directly at Lawrence.
"Enough to realize that the person we're looking for may already know everything."
Suddenly, a loud metallic sound echoed from the direction of the patrol vehicle.
Everyone turned.
The rear passenger door had opened.
A small black envelope lay on the seat.
Daniel approached cautiously.
He recognized the handwriting immediately.
His own name was written across the front.
He opened it.
Inside was a single photograph.
It showed Daniel standing outside his own house.
Taken that afternoon.
On the back, someone had written six words:
WE KNOW WHO YOU'RE PROTECTING.
Daniel's expression changed.
His phone rang again.
This time, the caller ID displayed a name he had not expected to see.
His younger sister.
He answered immediately.
"Emma?"
A frightened voice came through.
"Daniel..."
He straightened.
"What's wrong?"
"There's someone outside my house."
Daniel's face went cold.
"Emma, listen to me. Lock the doors. Stay away from the windows."
"Daniel, I think they know about you."
He looked at the photograph again.
Then he heard a second voice in the background.
A man's voice.
Calm.
Close.
"Tell your brother we need to talk."
The call disconnected.
Daniel stood motionless.
Captain Hayes approached him.
"Detective?"
Daniel slowly put the photograph inside his jacket.
Then he looked at the three officers standing beside him.
"The investigation just became personal."