CHAPTER 10: THE AFTERMATH
The motel was swarming with police.
Agent Webb handled the scene.
Emma was checked by paramedics.
She had a small cut on her arm, but otherwise she was okay.
She cried the whole time.
"I'm sorry, Mommy. I'm sorry I let them take me."
"Shh. None of this is your fault."
"I was so scared."
"I know, baby. I know."
I held her until her tears dried.
Then I held her a little longer.
Daniel was in a squad car.
I watched him from across the parking lot.
He wasn't looking at me.
He was looking at his hands.
Like he was calculating something.
The next move.
The escape.
I felt a chill run down my spine.
"Mrs. Harper?"
Agent Webb appeared beside me.
"The paramedics want to take Emma to the hospital. Just to be safe."
I nodded.
"I'll go with her."
"Of course."
He hesitated.
"Daniel's being transferred to federal custody. We'll be questioning him extensively. We might need your help."
"Anything. Whatever you need."
He nodded.
"And Mrs. Harper? I'm sorry about everything."
"Me too."
I climbed into the ambulance with Emma.
She was asleep before we reached the hospital.
And I stared out the window at the sky.
The sun was rising.
A new day.
A new beginning.
But I knew that the past was far from over.
Daniel had told me the truth about one thing.
May you like
This wasn't the end.
It was only the beginning.
