Chapter 11 - THE CAR AT THE GATE
Everyone moved at once.
“NOAH!”
Alexander shouted his name from the hallway.
A housekeeper came running. “Mr. Sterling, Caroline said you wanted him moved.”
“When?”
“Five minutes ago.”
“Moved where?”
“She said there was press at the front gate.”
A black Mercedes had exited through the service gate ninety seconds earlier.
Alexander looked like he might kill someone.
I grabbed his arm. “Don’t.”
“I know that look.”
He pulled free. “She took my son.”
“And Noah needs you thinking.”
Caroline’s message said take him to Alden now.
“Noah hates long drives.”
“He gets carsick.”
“So?”
“He always asks for the window cracked.”
The Mercedes was a Sterling fleet vehicle. Its climate system connected to a remote service app. Even with GPS disabled, the system sent diagnostic pings when windows opened.
The latest ping came from a toll road heading north.
Twenty-seven minutes later, highway patrol stopped the Mercedes.
Noah sat in the back seat crying with Bunny pressed to his face.
When officers returned him, he ran past everyone.
“Dad!”
Alexander held him like he would never let go.
I turned away because the moment was not mine.
Then Noah said something against his father’s shoulder.
“Miss Caroline said Emma told her to take me.”
Noah continued. “She said Emma was leaving because I’m bad.”
Alexander whispered, “She lied.”
Noah looked at me. “Are you leaving because I’m bad?”
“No.”
“Then why?”
The truth was too complicated. Lying would be worse.
May you like
“Because adults made choices that scared me too.”
Then asked, “Can scared people stay?”
