by R. D. Brady
Gerard chuckled. “Well, you’re the only one I can trust, now aren’t you? Delaney McPhearson could control me with that stupid little ring of hers. From what I know of Jennifer Witt and Maddox, they’d just try to take my head off. And none of you will allow a human to meet with me alone.”
“So you want me to meet with you alone.”
“Of course. And if I see or sense any of the others nearby, you’ll never find those kids.”
Henry watched Danny and Max play in the field. Jen narrowed her eyes and started heading toward him.
He sighed. “Fine. When and where?”
“I’ll text you a location in two hours.”
CHAPTER 40
“You can’t be serious,” Jen said, her arms crossed as she sat at the granite island in Dom’s kitchen.
Henry sighed. He’d waited until they’d returned to the bunker to tell them about Gerard’s offer. “Look, I know. But if there’s a chance, I have to take it.”
“Henry, the last time you were near Gerard, it didn’t go that well,” Laney said.
“They tortured you,” Jake declared bluntly.
“Gee, I’d forgotten. Thanks for the reminder.” Henry shook his head. “Look, I know it’s a risk. But we’re at a dead end. We don’t know where the kids are and we don’t have any leads. And if Gerard knows something, we need to know it too.”
“We’re whittling down the religious groups,” Jen said. “With a little time—”
“Some of those kids have been missing for a month,” Henry replied. “They don’t have time.”
“He can’t be trusted,” Jake said.
“No, he can’t,” Henry said. “But there was something in his voice. I think this is on the up and up.”
“We don’t even know if those kids are still alive,” Laney said quietly.
Henry knew how much that thought consumed her. He took her hand. “But we need to act like they are until we know for sure that they aren’t. And that means doing everything we can to find them—including meeting with Gerard.”
“Fine. But if you’re going, I’m going,” Jen said.
“No,” Henry replied. “Gerard was clear on that point. I’m the only one he trusts to not try and kill him or control him in a meeting.”
“Apparently he’s not stupid,” Laney mumbled.
Jake grunted. “Then we’re putting a tracker on you. I’ll stay back but be close enough—”
“No,” Henry said, more forcefully this time. “Look, I know it’s dangerous, but it’s a chance we have to take. It’s a chance I have to take. And I’m not risking those kids lives by breaking Gerard’s terms.”
Jen glared at him. “You’re not going in there alone.”
Henry sighed. He knew that tone; she wasn’t going to back down. He shouldn’t have told them. He should have just met with Gerard and then told them about it afterward. But it was too late for that now. If Gerard had information, they needed it.
He sighed. “Okay. You can come. But you guys have to stay back.”
“Deal,” Jake said. “When’s the meet?”
“He’s going to text me with a location in three hours.”
CHAPTER 41
Henry stared at the building in disbelief. You have got to be kidding me.
He looked down at his phone again—the phone in which he’d disabled the GPS so the others couldn’t follow him. Yup. This is it.
After Henry had snuck off his estate, Gerard had sent him to three separate locations. At the first one, Henry had been required to get out of the car while two humans searched it. At the second two, he’d sat and waited in the car until a new message came in, sending him somewhere else. And now he sat in the parking lot of the fourth location, his disbelief growing. A giant mouse towered over the front of the building.
He was at Chuck E. Cheese’s. Where a kid can be a kid.
A family of six headed to the front door. The kids excitedly ran ahead of the parents, who dragged their feet, looking resigned to their fate. A mom and two kids were walking out as the family of six walked in. Both kids were crying, and one was being held over the shoulder of the very tired-looking mother.
Henry typed into his phone: I’m here. Even as he sent the message, he hoped Gerard would send him to another location.
The response was short in coming. Back right hand corner of the dining area.
Blowing out a breath, Henry stepped out of the car. The air had gotten a little cooler, but he took off his fleece anyway. He didn’t want Gerard to think he was concealing a weapon and cause a scene.
Henry crossed the parking lot and opened the front door. Noise accosted him immediately: games, yelling kids, and music. How can anyone think with all this?
He got into line behind the family of six. Another family was ahead of them. Henry glanced around and realized that he was the only adult not attached to a child. Crap.
He looked past the family ahead of him at the pimply teenager letting people in. “Are you here for a birthday party?” the teenager asked the father in front.
“Yes. Eddie’s.”
The kid nodded, grabbed a stamp, and dutifully stamped the hand of each person in the group. He did the same for the next family, although apparently they were just here for the fun of it.
When Henry reached the front of the line, the kid gawked up at him. “Um, are you here for a party?”
“Yes. My nephew. Eddie.”
The kid grabbed a stamp and placed it on the back of Henry’s hand. Then he waved him in, having already lost interest in him.
Henry headed toward the back corner. Kids ran past him. He spotted Gerard sitting at a booth in the back, near the birthday area. As Henry wound his way around excited children and stressed parents, he thanked God that Danny had never asked to be taken here.
Gerard stood as Henry approached. “Henry. Good to see you.”
Henry nodded and took the chair across from him. “Why on earth are we meeting here?”
Gerard looked around with a shrug, resuming his seat. “Why not? Lots of kids. Lots of innocents. Lots of noise. No one will notice us, and all these kids will make sure you don’t make a scene.”
“I don’t think my making a scene is the issue.”
Gerard smiled. “Well, I’m certainly not going to do anything. Each of these parents has a cell phone ready to record their little darling. Or us. We’re both protected.”
Henry nodded. “Fine. So tell me, where are the kids?”
Gerard sighed. “Straight to business.” He pulled a file from the chair next to him. “We don’t have an exact location, but I have background on one of the key players in this little adventure.”
Henry took the file and flipped through it. It was a deep background check on Phillip Northgram. “We’ve already spoken with him. How does this help us find the kids?”
Gerard took a sip from his cup and then stood. “Read it. You’ll see.”
“That’s it? You’re leaving?”
“I’ve done what I planned. And you and I both know that Jake Rogan is undeniably scouring the city looking for you.”
Henry had to admit that that was probably true. It was why he had disconnected the GPS on his car and phone and told everyone the meet was set for an hour from now. “I still don’t get why you’re doing this.”
“And you don’t need to. For once, we are not at cross purposes. Let’s just leave it at that.” And with that, Gerard headed for the exit.
Henry watched him leave, his eyes narrowed. Whatever the reason, Gerard helping them couldn’t be good. Obviously he wanted the children protected, or at least not in the hands of whoever had them. But why? What was Gerard’s plan for them?
Henry shook his head as he stood. It didn’t matter. At least not right now. Right now, finding the kids was all that mattered. And if a little confab with the devil’s envoy was what was required to secure their safety, then so be it.
They’d worry about what the devil wanted after they got the kids bac
k.
CHAPTER 42
Kati walked around the island in Dom’s kitchen. Dom offered her a bag of cookies. “Chocolate chip?”
She smiled. “No, thanks.”
He smiled and tottered off. Kati watched him go, a reluctant grin on her face. He’d been a happy distraction and, strange as it sounds, a comfort these last few months. But the smile soon slid from her face. In the last year, Max’s life had been in danger twice—and so had hers. And each time it was because they were close to Chandler Group activities or personnel.
She hated thinking that. It felt traitorous. But the Fallen kept coming for Laney and Henry. And people were getting caught in the crossfire. And the last time, she’d nearly lost Max.
Kati wrapped her arms around herself. She wasn’t cut out for this type of life. Laney, Jen, Jake, Henry—they all seemed to be able to take the violence in stride. But not Kati. She hadn’t had a good night’s sleep in about a year.
Actually, you’ve slept better since Maddox moved in. Well, that was true; she had to admit her subconscious was right. But she still wasn’t sleeping as well as she had before all this began.
Max’s laugh grabbed her attention. He was playing Skylanders with Danny. He looked so young. Her heart caught. And he is going to have a chance to get older. I promise.
Everyone else was up at Henry’s office. Everyone except one. She glanced at where Maddox was sitting.
Kati stood up, giving herself a shake. Okay. Let’s do this. She walked over to Maddox.
He looked up. “Everything okay?”
“Yes. Um, I was just thinking, maybe we should spend the night at the cottage.”
Maddox’s eyebrows raised. “Why?”
Kati swallowed. “I just think it would be good for Max to sleep in his own bed—above ground. Do you think it’s safe?”
Maddox nodded, speaking slowly. “Yes, I do. But why do you think it’s safe?”
“You’re good at your job. And Henry has the whole estate locked down. I just think it would be good for Max.”
Maddox stood up and looked down at Kati. His voice was low. “You and Max are not a job.”
Kati’s head jerked up. “I know. I know that.”
Maddox looked down at her, his eyes searching for something. She wasn’t sure what.
Finally, he nodded. “Okay. Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 43
As soon as Henry climbed into his car, he opened the file on his lap and scanned the first page quickly. It was just background on Northgram.
We already know all this, he thought as he read. Why would Gerard think this matters?
He scanned the second page. They had all this information as well. What the hell? He flipped to the next page. This is a huge waste of time. Damn it. I never should have—
He stopped in mid-rant as his eyes locked on a line halfway down the third page. He immediately fumbled for his phone, dialing quickly.
Jake answered almost immediately. “Henry, where the hell—”
Henry cut him off. “Northgram had a first wife.”
“What?” Jake said.
“Phillip Northgram. He’s on his second marriage, not his first. He paid to have all traces of the first marriage wiped. Apparently they got married early, right out of college.”
“Who’s the first wife?”
“Her name’s Linda.”
“Hold on,” Jake said. Henry could hear Jake yelling at someone in the background to run a check on Linda Northgram.
Henry drummed his fingers on the dash.
Jake came back on the line. “There’s nothing on that name. What’s her maiden name?”
Henry scanned the sheet. “Grayston.”
“I’ll call you back.” Jake hung up.
Henry stared at the phone, then dropped it in the passenger seat. He started the car and slowly pulled out. As he headed back to the estate, his mind was a million miles away. He kept glancing over at the phone, willing it to ring. A few minutes later, it did.
Henry pulled over. “What have you got?”
“Linda Grayston, age fifty-two. Currently residing in Happy Meadows Sanitarium.”
“Sanitarium? How long has she been there?”
“Ten years.”
Henry felt his new hope begin to ebb. She’d been locked up for a decade. How could she be related to any of this? “What’s she there for?”
“She’s a paranoid schizophrenic.”
Henry stared at the folder on the passenger seat. “What the hell?”
CHAPTER 44
Kati watched from the doorway as Maddox tucked the blankets around Max. It had taken them a while to leave Dom’s. Max had wanted to stay and finish his game that never seemed to end. Kati had finally just turned the machine off. Max had then been angry and refused to leave, so Maddox had just scooped him up and headed out.
Maddox had carried Max the whole way back to Kati’s cottage, and he’d fallen asleep en route. Now Kati’s heart skipped as Maddox pushed Max’s hair out of his face and placed a kiss on his forehead.
When Maddox stood up and joined Kati in the hall, he said, “I couldn’t find Lamby. Did you bring him?”
Kati’s hand flew to her mouth. “Oh, no. I must have left him at Dom’s. Max will be so upset if he wakes up and realizes Lamby’s not here. Can you go get him?”
“Do you think you’ll be okay here for a few minutes?”
Kati nodded. “Yeah. I even saw Cleo prowling around out back. We’ll be fine.”
Maddox studied her for a moment. “Okay. I’ll be back.” He headed down the stairs.
Kati waited until she heard the front door close, then she sprinted for Max’s room. She ran to the bed and carefully bundled her son into her arms. He mumbled but didn’t wake.
Moving as fast as she could, she made it down the stairs. It was a struggle to open the front door while holding Max, but she managed it. And she nearly let out a screech when she did: Cleo sat directly on the opposite side of the door.
“Oh, Cleo, please move,” Kati begged.
Cleo stared at her for a moment before stepping aside. Kati breathed a sigh of relief as she stepped past the cat. I’ll have to put Max in the car and then come back to close the door, she thought.
But behind her she heard the door creak. She glanced back. Cleo had the door handle in her mouth and was pulling it shut.
“Thank you,” Kati whispered.
Her heart pounding, she struggled to move quickly under Max’s weight. When had he gotten so heavy? She hugged him to her. He was growing up so fast. And I mean to see that he continues to.
She leaned him against the car, again struggling to hold him while opening the back door. Then she maneuvered him into his booster seat and quietly buckled him in.
“Mom?” Max’s sleepy eyes watched her. “What are you doing?”
“It’s okay. We’re taking a little ride. Go back to sleep.”
He nodded, and Kati could tell he was already drifting off. She looked around for Cleo, but the big cat had already disappeared somewhere. So she eased the car door shut and ran around to the driver’s seat.
Buckling herself in, she glanced back at Max. Sound asleep. She let out a breath. Stage one complete.
As she pulled the car away from the curb and headed for the main gate, she rehearsed the words in her mind. A guard stepped out of the booth as she pulled up to the gate.
“Hi, Ms. Simmons.” He glanced in the back seat and saw Max asleep. He lowered his voice. “Where are you two off to?”
She put a finger to her lips and waved him closer, whispering. “Just running some errands.”
“Are you sure that’s all right?” He looked uncertain.
Kati nodded. “Oh, yes. They found the men who were responsible. And they weren’t after Max. It was Danny.”
The man still looked uncertain, so Kati pushed a little harder. “I really need to get going.”
He nodded and hit the button that operated the gate. “Well, have a good time
.”
“Thanks.” Kati let out a breath as she drove off the property, but she was careful to keep her speed low until the guard was out of view.
Then she hit the gas.
CHAPTER 45
Maddox headed back to Kati and Max, the beloved stuffed lamb clutched in his hand. He shook his head. A year ago he was fighting for his life; now he was on stuffed animal retrieval.
But Kati was right. If Max woke up and Lamby wasn’t there, there would be waterworks.
He smiled as he saw the cottage up ahead. All the lights were off, except for the front hall. It was funny. With Kati and Max, he felt like he had found a home—a family—for the first time in a long time.
He pictured Max asleep in his bed and imagined Lamby curled up in his arms. A feeling of contentment drifted through him. How crazy that such a small act—a little boy sleeping with a toy—could bring such peace. But Maddox knew it was more than that. Max was a sign of the goodness in this world. The innocence in it.
He climbed the steps and quietly let himself in the door. There was no sound from upstairs. Maybe Kati feel asleep, too. He hoped she did. She needed to get much more sleep than she had been lately.
Maddox took the stairs two at a time and headed to Max’s room, expecting to see Kati asleep in the chair next to the bed. Slowly, he pushed the door open.
The chair was empty. And so was the bed.
Maddox went still. He turned and strode toward Kati’s room, his heart beginning to pound. She just brought Max to sleep with her, he rationalized.
But the house was quiet. Too quiet.
He pushed open Kati’s door. Her bed was empty too.
“Damn it,” Maddox cursed. He turned and ran down the steps. He was out the door and on the sidewalk in seconds. He scanned the cars parked there. Kati’s was gone.
He yanked his cell phone out and dialed her number. Kati’s familiar ring tone rang from back in the house.
He ran to the front gate at top speed, not even bothering to hide his ability. The guard was startled, and clumsily got to his feet when Maddox appeared in the doorway.