Then she stopped.
She added another sentence.
IF THEY MAKE ME DISAPPEAR, SOMEONE ELSE WILL KNOW WHERE TO LOOK.
She closed the notebook.
She did not know that someone had already entered the school office.
She did not know that her records were about to become important.
And she certainly did not know that Mrs. Bennett had a secret of her own.
The first attempt to take Maya happened on a rainy Thursday.
Elena was walking home from work when two police officers stopped her.
They claimed there had been a report concerning stolen property.
Elena argued.
They searched her bag.
Then one officer produced a small packet of illegal drugs.
Elena stared at it.
"That's not mine."
The officer looked bored.
"Tell it to the judge."
They arrested her.
Elena's first thought was Maya.
Her second was the social worker.
Her third was Graves.
She called the number.
Graves answered immediately.
"Where are you?"
"Police station."
"What happened?"
"They planted something."
"I know."
Elena froze.
"What?"
"I know."
Within twenty minutes, an attorney arrived.
Within an hour, the attorney discovered that the evidence against Elena had been logged incorrectly.
The arrest began collapsing.
But before Elena could be released, another problem appeared.
Maya was alone at home.
A social worker arrived.
So did a police officer.
They said Maya needed temporary protective custody.
The apartment door opened.
A massive biker stood inside.
His name was Boone.
He looked down at the social worker.
"She's not alone."
The social worker stared.
"Who are you?"
"Someone her mother trusts."
"I have authorization."
Boone handed her a document.
"Then you'll want to read this."
It was a court order.
A temporary emergency guardianship agreement signed by an attorney.
The social worker read it.
Her expression changed.
"You can't just—"
"I can if the court says I can."
She looked at Maya.
Maya stood behind Boone.
Her hands were shaking.
The social worker sighed.
"I'll be back."
When the door closed, Maya looked up.
"Are you one of the bikers?"
Boone nodded.
"Do you have a name?"
"Boone."
"That's your real name?"
"No."
"What is it?"
He smiled.
"Maybe someday."
For the first time in days, Maya laughed.
It lasted only a second.
But Boone noticed.
And he realized something.
They weren't protecting a symbol.
They were protecting a child.
The following week, the Iron Saints changed everything.
They stopped behaving like a motorcycle club.
They began behaving like a witness-protection network.
One member monitored the courthouse.
Another tracked vehicles near Elena's apartment.
Another contacted lawyers.
Preacher distributed copies of the video.
One copy went to a journalist.
Another went to a judge.
Another went to a civil rights organization.
Another went to a federal prosecutor.
The evidence could no longer be destroyed in one place.
Kane realized what was happening.
He summoned the officers involved.
"We have a problem."
A younger officer looked nervous.
"The video?"
Kane stared at him.
"You knew about the video?"
The officer swallowed.
"I heard rumors."
Kane walked across the room.
"Rumors don't put people in prison."
He stopped behind the officer.
"Evidence does."
The officer said nothing.
Kane looked at the others.
"Find the girl."
Nobody moved.
"I said find her."
One officer finally spoke.
"She's surrounded by the motorcycle club."
Kane laughed bitterly.
"Then we remove the protection."
The next morning, Maya's school received an anonymous threat.
The principal called Elena.
Maya was sent home.
On the way, a black sedan followed them.
Elena noticed.