Chapter 14 - THE EMPTY CLASSROOM
I do not remember driving to the school.
Marcus probably prevented three accidents.
I remember the principal’s face.
I remember Rebecca Sloan running through the lobby.
I remember one sentence.
“She was signed out at 1:18.”
“By whom?”
The receptionist turned the computer screen.
AUTHORIZED FAMILY CONTACT: CAMILLE MERCER.
My chest tightened.
“She is prohibited from contact.”
The receptionist began crying.
“The court order wasn’t updated in our system.”
Marcus spoke.
“Camera footage.”
We pulled security video.
Camille had not come personally.
A black SUV had arrived.
A woman entered.
Hat.
Sunglasses.
She presented identification.
Not Camille.
Margaret stared at the image.
“I know her.”
“Who?”
“Patricia’s assistant.”
Camille’s attorney’s staff.
Evelyn called Patricia immediately.
Patricia sounded genuinely stunned.
“My assistant has been home sick.”
“Where is her identification?”
Silence.
Then.
“Oh, no.”
Someone had copied it.
The SUV plate was false.
Police were already notified.
I called Camille.
No answer.
Again.
No answer.
Then a text.
COME TO THE COAST HOUSE.
ALONE.
Celeste saw the message.
“She took her.”
I wanted to believe Camille would never physically endanger Noelle.
Then I remembered the wedding floor.
I stopped relying on beliefs.
Police refused to let me go alone.
I did not argue.
The coastal property had been purchased with trust money.
Marcus knew the address.
Two patrol units approached from the highway.
I went with detectives in an unmarked vehicle.
The house overlooked the ocean.
Beautiful.
Cold.
Built with money my father intended for his children.
The front door stood open.
Inside, we heard a child crying.
I moved before anyone could stop me.
The detective caught my jacket.
“Wait.”
Then Camille appeared at the top of the stairs.
Alone.
“Where is she?”
Camille stared at the police.
“I told you to come alone.”
“Where is Noelle?”
“She’s safe.”
“Where?”
“In the kitchen.”
One officer moved.
Camille raised her voice.
“Do not frighten her.”
I nearly laughed at the insanity of it.
Then Noelle appeared.
She was crying.
But walking.
Uninjured.
I crossed the room.
She ran into me.
“Daddy!”
I dropped to my knees.
“You okay?”
She nodded against my chest.
“Did anybody hurt you?”
“No.”
“Did Grandma touch you?”
“She hugged me.”
Camille spoke from the stairs.
“Apparently affection is illegal now.”
I stood with Noelle behind me.
“You removed her from school using false identification.”
“I rescued her.”
“From what?”
“You.”
The officers looked at one another.
Camille descended calmly.
“I received information that Adrian intended to take Noelle overseas.”
“That is false.”
Camille looked at the detective.
“He owns aircraft.”
“I don’t own aircraft.”
“His company charters them.”
The detective sighed.
“Mrs. Mercer, did you arrange for this child to be removed from school?”
Camille smiled.
“I arranged for family to protect family.”
“That isn’t an answer.”
“Yes.”
“You are aware of the no-contact order?”
Camille’s smile disappeared.
“That order is temporary.”
“It is still an order.”
The detective stepped closer.
“Turn around.”
Noelle grabbed my hand.
Camille looked at me.
“You’re going to let them arrest your mother?”
I said nothing.
“Adrian.”
For the first time, she sounded less like a queen.
More like a frightened woman.
“Tell them this is a misunderstanding.”
Noelle looked up at me.
I squeezed her hand.
Then I answered.
“You spent my entire childhood teaching me choices have consequences.”
Camille stared.
“I finally learned.”
The handcuffs closed.
She looked at Noelle.
“You see?”
Her voice became sharp.
“This is what your father does to people who love you.”
Noelle began trembling.
I stepped between them.
“Enough.”
Camille smiled strangely.
“You think putting me in a police car ends this?”
The detective guided her toward the door.
She turned once.
“Ask Raymond who changed Elena’s medical file.”
Every person in the room froze.
I felt the floor disappear beneath me.
“What?”
May you like
Camille smiled.
Then the police took her outside.
