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The doors open.

Empty.

A dark smear marks the floor.

The officers follow it through the loading corridor.

The loading door stands slightly open.

Outside, a narrow lane runs along the side of the warehouse.

Tire marks cut across a patch of dirt near the curb.

Peter is gone.

And someone took him before Elliot entered Ivy’s studio.

The deleted appointment.

The stolen laptop.

The phone purchased at the Blue Lantern.

Simon Vail inside Hazel’s apartment at the same time.

This wasn’t a desperate search for Grandpa’s evidence.

It was planned.

Ben turns toward Marquez.

“They wanted Elliot caught.”

Arthur Bell’s son is sitting inside a police vehicle.

He can’t warn anyone.

He can’t change his story.

And every piece of evidence now points toward his family.

“Simon sacrificed him,” I whisper.

“Why?” Hazel asks.

“Because Elliot knows something Simon can’t allow him to tell us.”

Marquez reaches for her phone.

Before she can place the call, it rings.

She looks at the screen.

“County jail transport.”

She answers.

“This is Agent Marquez.”