Chapter 7 - THE RABBIT THAT WAS WATCHING THEM
Leah Bennett had slept beside Maya's stuffed rabbit for three nights.
She'd carried it through the airport.
Held it while Maya cried.
And tucked it beneath her sister's chin during the flight.
Now investigators were telling her someone had hidden a tracking device inside it.
Her hands began trembling.
"Not Bunny."
Daniel knelt beside her.
"Leah, we're going to examine it carefully."
She looked frightened.
"Will Maya get it back?"
"We'll try to preserve it."
Maya clutched the rabbit tightly.
"No."
Leah wrapped her arms around her.
"It's okay."
Maya began crying.
"Mine!"
Alexander approached slowly.
He crouched beside them.
"Maya, nobody is angry with you."
The little girl stared at him.
He continued.
"Your rabbit may have something inside that doesn't belong there."
Maya looked toward Leah.
"Bad?"
Leah nodded gently.
"Maybe."
A child protection worker helped Maya understand why the rabbit needed to be checked.
After some reassurance, Maya agreed.
Investigators examined the toy.
Inside the lining was another small electronic device.
A tracker.
Someone had been following the girls.
From their apartment.
Through the airport.
Onto the plane.
Alexander felt sick.
The black disc on Noah's clothing was not an isolated incident.
It was part of a coordinated plan.
Someone wanted to track the children.
All three of them.
Noah.
Leah.
Maya.
Daniel looked toward Alexander.
"This is bigger than we thought."
Alexander nodded.
Then Leah whispered:
"Mom didn't put it there."
He turned.
"How do you know?"
"Because she checked Bunny before we left."
Alexander frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"She squeezed him and looked at the seams."
Leah's voice trembled.
"She said if anyone ever gave Maya a new toy, I should check it first."
Alexander closed his eyes.
Elena had known.
She'd been preparing for danger.
But someone found another way to reach the girls.
The investigation continued.
Airport security reviewed footage.
The girls' luggage was inspected.
And the rabbit's tracking data helped investigators identify a vehicle that had followed them to the airport.
The same black car Leah had drawn in her notebook.
Alexander stared at the image.
Victor Kane's men had been following the children.
But why?
If Victor wanted the key, why didn't he simply take it?
Then he remembered something.
Leah had been wearing the necklace beneath her sweatshirt.
Nobody would know where the key was unless they searched her.
And Elena had taught Leah not to reveal it.
Alexander looked toward the little girl.
She was holding Maya.
Protecting her.
The way their mother had taught her.
A terrible thought formed.
"What if Victor wasn't tracking the children to catch them?"
Daniel frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"What if he was waiting for them to lead him somewhere?"
Daniel stared.
"The key."
Alexander nodded.
"Julian's safe."
Then Leah's phone vibrated.
A new message appeared.
No sender.
Just a photograph.
Their kitchen.
The black disc under the table.
And a familiar woman standing beside the refrigerator.
Leah gasped.
"Mom!"
Alexander leaned closer.
The image showed Elena Bennett.
Alive.
Her wrists appeared restrained.
A man stood beside her.
Victor Kane.
Beneath the photograph was a message.
Bring the key to the old Vale headquarters.
Or Elena disappears for good.
Leah began crying.
Alexander gently took the phone.
He looked at the image.
Then at the frightened little girl.
And made a decision.
He would not let Victor turn the children into bargaining chips.
He contacted the authorities and provided the message.
Then Daniel spoke quietly.
"Alexander, there's something you should know."
"What?"
"We recovered another message from the tracking network."
Alexander turned.
"What message?"
May you like
Daniel swallowed.
"Victor wasn't only tracking Leah and Maya. He was tracking Noah because he believes the baby isn't your biological son."
