Chapter 16 - THE AMBUSH AT NICOLE’S APARTMENT
At 5:45 PM, Daniel and Detective Miller stood outside apartment 4B in a luxury high-rise in Arlington.
Daniel had refused to stay home. He had told Miller that if the police didn't take him, he would drive there himself and kick down the door. Emily was at home under heavy guard, sedated by emergency medical responders, while Lily was kept upstairs, blissfully unaware that her existence had just become the epicenter of an emotional nuclear blast.
Miller knocked firmly on the door. "Nicole Bennett? Fairfax County Police. Open up."
No answer.
Miller tried the knob. It was unlocked.
Miller drew his sidearm, signaling Daniel to stay behind him. They pushed into the modern, sunlit apartment. The air smelled of burnt lavender and expensive perfume.
"Nicole?" Daniel called out.
The living room was ransacked. Drawers were dumped out onto the Persian rug. Closet doors hung open, hangers scattered like bones.
On the kitchen island, a laptop was still running, its screen displaying an open email thread with the subject line: *FLIGHT CONFIRMATION: DULLES TO ZURICH — 8:15 PM.*
Miller checked the bathroom and bedrooms. "Clear. She packed in a hurry. She left less than twenty minutes ago."
Daniel stepped toward the kitchen counter. Next to the open laptop lay a framed photograph. It was a picture of Lily at age three, sitting on a swing set, laughing. On the back of the frame, Nicole had written:
*My sweet baby. One day you will know who gave you life.*
Daniel slammed his fist against the marble counter so hard his knuckles split, blood smearing across the stone. "She was part of it. All along. Even when she cried in court. Even when she hugged Emily at Thanksgiving. She was helping Margaret."
"Look at the screen, Daniel," Miller said urgently, pointing to the open email client.
An unread message had arrived just three minutes earlier from an encrypted address:
*Callahan to N. Bennett:*
May you like
*The package has been delivered to Daniel’s house. The seed of doubt is planted. Daniel will tear Emily apart over the lie. Meet me at Terminal B, gate 14. Once we land in Switzerland, the trust funds release the eight million dollars. Margaret’s will is executed. The girl will follow through international custody petition once the home is proven medically unstable.*
Miller grabbed his radio. "Dispatch, this is Miller. Issue an immediate APB on Nicole Bennett and attorney Vance Callahan. Suspects en route to Dulles International Airport, attempting international flight on Swiss Air 842. Hold that plane!"
