Chapter 9 - The Phone in the BackpackThe vibrating came from a phone Lily did not own.
She stared at her backpack as if it had become alive.
Ethan’s nurse heard it first. Then Lily. Then Maria burst into the room with Richard behind her.
“Don’t touch it,” Richard said.
Lily had already backed away.
Dana Wolfe carefully opened the backpack. Inside, tucked beneath a library book and a crushed granola bar wrapper, was a cheap black prepaid phone.
Its screen glowed.
UNKNOWN CALLER.
Detective Mills arrived within minutes. He put the phone on the table and answered on speaker.
No one breathed.
A distorted voice filled the room.
“Hello, Lily Carter.”
Maria made a sound and pulled Lily behind her.
Richard stepped forward. “Who is this?”
The voice paused.
“Richard Harrison. Still standing in front of children when danger comes. How inspiring.”
Mills signaled for the tech officer to trace.
The voice continued. “Do you know what I admire about children? They reveal the truth adults spend fortunes hiding.”
Richard looked at Ethan, whose eyes were wide with fear.
“What do you want?” Richard asked.
“I want you to look at the world you built.”
“Then look at me. Leave the children alone.”
A soft laugh came through the speaker.
“But the children are the only honest part of you.”
Maria’s voice shook with fury. “My daughter is not yours to use.”
“No, Mrs. Carter. She was yours to protect. Yet you brought her to an airport where powerful men play games.”
Maria flinched as though slapped.
Richard’s voice hardened. “Say what you want.”
“Very well. Tomorrow at noon, Richard Harrison will announce his resignation from Harrison Global and transfer controlling interest of the company into an independent trust. He will also release the full records of the Harrison Children’s Innovation Fund.”
Dana whispered, “He’s insane.”
The voice continued. “If he does not, the next failure will not be temporary.”
Richard’s eyes moved to Ethan.
The caller laughed again.
“Not him. Too obvious now.”
Maria went cold.
Lily’s small hand tightened around hers.
The line went dead.
Detective Mills grabbed the phone. “Trace?”
The tech officer shook his head. “Bounced too many times.”
Richard turned to Dana. “Lock down this floor.”
“Already moving.”
Maria lifted Lily into her arms though Lily was too big to be carried comfortably. “We’re leaving.”
Richard stepped in front of her. “It may not be safe.”
“It wasn’t safe near you.”
He had no answer.
She was right again.
But the hospital had police, cameras, guards. The Carters had a one-bedroom apartment in East Boston with a door lock Richard suspected could be kicked open by a teenager.
“Maria,” he said carefully, “please let me put protection on you and Lily.”
“I don’t want your people.”
“Then Detective Mills can arrange officers.”
Mills nodded. “I recommend it.”
Maria looked between them.
Lily whispered, “Mom, Ethan’s scared.”
Maria closed her eyes.
Even terrified, Lily was thinking of him.
Richard looked at his son. Ethan’s breathing had quickened, the monitor responding with sharp little beeps.
Lily wriggled down from Maria’s arms and walked to the bed.
“Don’t be scared,” she told Ethan, though her voice trembled. “Bad guys like scared. It makes them feel tall.”
Ethan blinked twice.
“I’m scared too,” she admitted. “But my mom says brave is when your knees shake and you still stand up.”
Richard turned away because he could not bear it.
That night, police guarded both children.
Richard did not sleep. Maria did not either.
At dawn, Lily woke in the chair beside Ethan’s bed and saw Richard standing by the window.
“Mr. Harrison?” she said.
He turned.
“Are you going to do what the bad voice said?”
Richard looked at Ethan.
Then at Maria.
Then at the city outside.
“I’m going to do something worse,” he said.
May you like
“What?”
“I’m going to tell the truth.”
Related Stories
