Chapter 7 - THE BOY WHO REFUSED TO BE LEFT BEHIND -“Ethan!”
Adrian’s shout echoed through the trees.
The boy stood beside the damaged SUV, frozen in the rain.
One of Julian’s men reached for him.
Lily ran before anyone could stop her.
She crossed the muddy roadside and slammed her shoulder into the attacker’s waist.
They both fell.
The man grabbed Lily’s hair.
She drove her elbow into his throat.
Ethan crawled beneath the SUV.
Another attacker aimed toward them.
Adrian fired from behind the trees.
The bullet struck the man’s leg.
Marcus and the remaining officers pushed forward.
The attackers retreated toward the truck.
One threw a smoke canister onto the road.
White smoke swallowed the wreckage.
Lily reached beneath the SUV.
“Ethan, take my hand.”
He crawled toward her.
She pulled him free and covered his body with hers.
A truck engine roared.
The attackers escaped through the smoke.
Adrian emerged moments later.
He dropped to his knees beside Ethan.
“What were you thinking?”
Ethan began sobbing.
“I heard you say Grace was scared.”
“I couldn’t stay home while you saved her.”
Adrian wanted to be angry.
Instead, he saw himself in his son.
Determined.
Reckless.
Terrified of losing another family member.
He pulled Ethan into his arms.
“You could have been killed.”
“I’m sorry.”
Claire knelt beside them.
“We cannot send him back now.”
Adrian looked at her.
“Absolutely not.”
“The residence may already be compromised.”
“She’s right,” Marcus said.
“The escort team knew our route.”
“Someone in our security detail leaked it.”
They inspected the second vehicle.
The driver and guard were alive but unconscious.
Their brake line had been cut before departure.
The attack had been planned inside Blackwood Manor.
Adrian realized the conspiracy was still closer than he believed.
They transferred into the attackers’ abandoned backup vehicle.
Marcus discovered a navigation device containing a programmed destination.
It led to an old marina ten miles north.
They drove there instead of continuing toward Northstar.
The marina appeared deserted.
Inside a storage building, they found photographs of their convoy route.
There were maps of the manor.
A list of security personnel.
One name was marked in red.
Marcus Reed.
Lily looked at him.
Marcus stared at the paper.
Someone wanted Adrian to distrust him.
A laptop rested on a folding table.
Its screen displayed a live video feed.
Grace sat in a white room holding a stuffed rabbit.
A speaker activated.
Julian’s voice filled the building.
“You brought Ethan.”
Claire moved toward the camera.
“Let Grace go.”
“You know the exchange.”
Adrian stepped forward.
“You will receive nothing until I speak to my daughter.”
The camera angle changed.
Grace looked toward someone outside the frame.
A man entered the room wearing a white coat.
Dr. Samuel Voss.
Adrian recognized him immediately.
Voss had delivered Ethan.
He had treated Claire during her pregnancy.
He had signed the report declaring their unborn daughter dead.
Claire’s breathing became uneven.
Voss placed one hand on Grace’s shoulder.
“Say hello.”
Grace looked at the camera.
Her voice was tiny.
“Hello.”
Claire pressed both hands against the screen.
“Grace, my name is Claire.”
The child stared uncertainly.
“I’m your mother.”
Voss leaned down.
“Your mother is dead.”
“No,” Claire said.
“I’m alive.”
Grace looked frightened.
Voss moved his hand toward a tray of syringes.
Adrian slammed his fist against the table.
“Don’t touch her.”
Julian’s voice returned.
“Sign the transfer documents.”
A printer activated behind them.
Pages slid into the tray.
The documents transferred Adrian’s voting rights and named Julian temporary executive chairman.
Marcus examined them.
“They won’t be legally binding under coercion.”
Julian laughed.
“They only need to appear legitimate long enough for the board to approve an emergency transition.”
Adrian understood.
Several board members must already be involved.
Julian planned to take control before the truth became public.
Claire whispered to Adrian.
“Do not sign.”
“He will hurt her.”
“He will hurt her anyway.”
Lily studied the video.
A small rectangular reflection appeared in the window behind Grace.
It showed a red lighthouse.
She looked around the marina.
Through the cracked storage wall, she could see the same lighthouse across the water.
“Grace is close.”
Adrian followed her gaze.
The video feed was not coming from Northstar.
It was coming from a building near the marina.
Marcus pulled up local maps.
An abandoned tuberculosis hospital stood on an island two miles offshore.
It matched Claire’s description of one of her old facilities.
Julian believed they would focus on the paperwork.
Instead, the team prepared two boats.
Adrian signed the first page slowly to keep Julian occupied.
Lily slipped out through the rear door with Claire and Marcus.
Ethan remained beside Adrian.
“You should go with Lily,” Adrian whispered.
“I’m staying.”
“Why?”
“If Uncle Julian sees me, he’ll think everyone is still here.”
Adrian looked at his son with painful pride.
They continued the false negotiation.
Meanwhile, Lily’s boat crossed the dark water.
The abandoned hospital rose above the island like a shadow.
Several windows glowed on the upper floor.
Marcus cut the engine before they reached the dock.
They moved silently through the reeds.
The service entrance was unlocked.
Inside, the building smelled of bleach and damp concrete.
They found rows of empty hospital beds.
Children’s drawings covered the walls.
One drawing showed a black-haired girl standing beside a boy she had never met.
The names beneath the figures read GRACE and ETHAN.
Claire touched the paper.
“She knows about him.”
A sound came from the corridor.
Lily raised her flashlight.
A little boy stepped from behind a door.
He wore a hospital gown.
“Are you here to take us home?”
More children appeared behind him.
There were at least twelve.
Claire’s face crumpled.
“We’re going to try.”
An alarm suddenly blared.
Red lights flashed.
Dr. Voss’s voice came through the speakers.
“Security breach on the lower level.”
Steel doors began closing throughout the corridor.
Lily grabbed the nearest child.
“Move!”
Claire led the others toward the stairwell.
Marcus held one door open as the locking mechanism engaged.
They made it through seconds before it slammed shut.
On the upper floor, armed guards waited.
Lily pushed the children behind a nurses’ station.
Claire fired once.
The guards scattered.
Marcus returned fire.
Then a familiar voice came from the end of the hall.
“Stop.”
Julian held Grace against his chest.
A pistol pressed beneath her chin.
Behind him stood Vanessa Crane.
She had escaped police custody.
Her face was bruised.
Her eyes were wild.
May you like
She looked at Lily and smiled.
“I told you that you had made things worse.”
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