Chapter 11 - The Clock Starts
Gabriel wanted Cassidy underground.
Naomi wanted her in federal protective custody.
Dr. Reed wanted her in a hospital.
Cassidy wanted answers.
They compromised.
Alder Crown owned a secure medical research facility outside the city.
It contained private recovery suites, emergency surgical equipment, and controlled access.
Cassidy was transferred there under an alias.
Only six people knew the location.
Gabriel.
Naomi.
Dr. Reed.
Two security officers.
Cassidy.
Before leaving headquarters, Cassidy gave one order.
“Leak a false hospital destination.”
Gabriel understood immediately.
“You want to see who accesses it.”
“Exactly.”
Three false destinations were entered into three separate internal systems.
One pointed to Boston.
One to New York.
One to Philadelphia.
Each version was accessible to a different group of employees.
Two hours later, the unknown sender messaged Cassidy again.
RUNNING TO PHILADELPHIA WON’T HELP.
Gabriel looked at the screen.
“We have our leak group.”
Only seven people had access to the Philadelphia version.
One was Ellis Grant.
Another was Grant’s executive assistant.
A third was a network administrator named Owen Pike.
The remaining four appeared unrelated.
Gabriel began investigating all seven.
Meanwhile, Detective Ortiz called.
“We searched a Mercer storage facility.”
Cassidy put her on speakerphone.
“What did you find?”
“Baby supplies.”
Cassidy frowned.
“What?”
“A nursery.”
Nobody spoke.
Ortiz continued.
“Crib.”
“Formula.”
“Diapers.”
“Clothes.”
“Medical equipment.”
Cassidy felt nauseated.
“How old?”
“Mostly newborn.”
“Anything else?”
“A locked cabinet.”
“What was inside?”
“Documents under the name Amelia Mercer.”
Cassidy looked at Naomi.
Cassidy had chosen the name Amelia for her daughter months ago.
Only Brendan and close family knew.
Ortiz continued.
“There’s a prepared birth certificate application.”
“Listing whom as the mother?”
Silence.
Cassidy already knew the answer would be bad.
Ortiz said, “Vanessa Cole.”
Cassidy stared at the phone.
Naomi whispered, “That’s impossible.”
“There’s more.”
Ortiz sounded angry now.
“We found staged photographs of Vanessa preparing a nursery.”
“Why?”
“It appears they were building evidence that she was the intended caregiver.”
Cassidy closed her eyes.
They were not merely planning to take temporary custody.
They were planning to erase Cassidy.
Gabriel’s phone rang.
He answered.
His expression changed immediately.
“What happened?”
He ended the call.
“Vanessa is missing.”
Cassidy’s eyes opened.
“What?”
“She left the police interview facility with her attorney forty-five minutes ago.”
“And?”
“Her car was found abandoned.”
Cassidy understood instantly.
Vanessa had become dangerous to the conspiracy because she had changed sides.
Her phone contained messages.
She had heard conversations.
She could testify.
Cassidy stood.
“Find her.”
Gabriel nodded.
“We will.”
Cassidy looked at the photograph of the fake nursery.
“No.”
May you like
Her voice hardened.
“Find her before Evelyn does.”
