Daniel Played the Recorder Sophie Found — Then Vanessa Mentioned a Suitcase Hidden Upstairs
Chapter 2 — Under the Bed
Daniel carried Sophie with him upstairs.
Vanessa followed closely behind.
“This is ridiculous.”
Daniel ignored her.
He entered the bedroom.
Then crouched beside the bed.
At first he saw nothing.
Then he reached deeper.
His fingers touched hard plastic.
He pulled.
A dark blue suitcase slid across the floor.
Daniel had never seen it before.
“Whose is this?”
Vanessa stood silently in the doorway.
The suitcase had a small combination lock.
Daniel looked at Sophie.
“How did you know it was here?”
“I saw Vanessa push it under there.”
Vanessa immediately said:
“She was spying on me.”
Daniel stared at her.
“She’s seven.”
Then Sophie said:
“The number is 0412.”
Both adults looked at her.
“How do you know?” Daniel asked.
“She said it on the recorder.”
Daniel hadn’t listened to the entire recording.
He entered 0-4-1-2.
The lock clicked.
Vanessa moved forward.
“Daniel, don’t open that.”
He lifted the lid.
Inside were clothes.
Not Vanessa’s everyday clothes.
Several new outfits still had tags attached.
A toiletry bag.
Two envelopes containing cash.
A passport.
And a large brown document folder.
Daniel picked up the passport.
Vanessa Blake.
That was expected.
Then he found another passport beneath it.
Same photograph.
Different surname.
VANESSA WELLS.
Daniel stared at it.
“Why do you have two passports?”
Vanessa didn’t answer.
Then he opened the document folder.
Inside was a photograph of Sophie.
And beneath the photograph was a form with a title that made Daniel’s blood run cold.
MINOR TRAVEL CONSENT.
