Chapter 5 - Lake Briar
Lake Briar appeared on no public health directory. Walter found its address only through an old insurance contact two hours north of Chicago.
Nicholas wanted to leave immediately.
Hannah blocked the wheelchair.
"No."
He stared at her.
"Move."
"You were drugged tonight, you fell, and your blood pressure is unstable. You are not driving into the woods at midnight."
"I wasn't planning to drive."
"That was not the important part of the sentence."
Walter hid a smile.
Nicholas did not.
"My sister may be alive."
"And if somebody kept her hidden for seven years, charging through the front gate is exactly what they expect."
That stopped him.
Hannah hated the fear in his eyes because it made him look younger.
Less like Nicholas Valenti.
More like a brother who had spent seven years talking to a grave.
They compromised. Vincent sent surveillance, Walter contacted a judge, Hannah drew Nicholas's blood, and Claire was confined under guard.
At 1:17 a.m., Vincent's phone rang.
One of the surveillance men whispered, "We have movement."
A dark medical transport van had left Lake Briar without headlights for the first hundred yards.
"Follow it," Nicholas said.
"Already are."
Twenty minutes later, another call.
"They know we're behind them."
Nicholas gripped the armrest.
"Do not lose that van."
The line filled with engine noise.
Then a crash.
Then silence.
Vincent called again.
No answer.
Nicholas looked toward the stairs where Claire was being held.
"Bring her down."
When Claire entered, he showed her the photograph.
"Who is in the wheelchair?"
She looked at the silver cross.
Her composure broke for half a second.
"I don't know."
Nicholas rolled closer.
"That lie just cost someone blood."
Claire whispered, "If Rebecca wakes up, you lose everything."
May you like
Nicholas stared at her.
"Then wake her.
