ped…”
“They already know your name.”
The video ended.
Sophie whispered.
“Uncle Dean caused this.”
Marcus shook his head.
“Partly.”
“Daniel still made choices.”
Important.
Painful.
True.
The second video was recorded three days before the trip.
Dean alone.
He appeared to be testing the camera.
Then made a phone call.
The audio captured everything.
“Yeah.”
Pause.
“Friday.”
Pause.
“He’s taking the boys.”
My blood went cold.
Dean continued.
“The wife and girls stay behind.”
Pause.
“No, he doesn’t know I’m telling you.”
Sophie gasped.
Detective Brooks immediately paused.
No one spoke.
Dean had betrayed Daniel.
He helped plan the escape.
Then told Harbor Crest.
My legs weakened.
“Did they catch them?”
I whispered.
Nobody knew.
The video continued.
Dean said.
“He’ll leave the truck at Briar.”
“Boat too.”
Pause.
“He plans to head west.”
Another pause.
Then.
“My part is done.”
The call ended.
I felt sick.
Daniel’s note made sense.
Do not trust Dean.
He discovered the betrayal after recording the first video.
Maybe before the trip.
Maybe too late to change plans.
The third recording answered that.
Friday morning.
The day they left.
Daniel recorded inside the storage unit.
The boys were not visible.
His face was pale.
“I know Dean told them.”
“I found his burner phone.”
Sophie gripped my h
