Chapter 8 - THE FALSE NURSE
Mercer moved before I could scream.
He caught the woman’s wrist inches from Sophie’s IV line.
The syringe fell onto the bed.
A clear liquid spilled across the sheet.
The woman fought with terrifying strength.
She drove her elbow into Mercer’s face.
I pulled Sophie away from the bed.
The officers outside rushed in.
They forced the woman to the floor.
She said nothing.
Not one word.
Even after they handcuffed her.
Mercer picked up the syringe with a gloved hand.
“What is in this?”
She smiled.
That was all.
The hospital pharmacist later identified the liquid as a concentrated sedative.
The dose could have stopped Sophie’s breathing.
I stood beside her new room while security searched every floor.
My mother had called Sophie resilient.
Preston had sent someone to make sure she never spoke again.
There was no family left to save.
Only an enemy wearing my last name.
Mercer returned with a split lip.
“The woman’s name is Laura Bennett.”
“Who is she?”
“She works for Whitmore Protective Services.”
“My father again.”
“She received a payment this morning from a shell company linked to Preston.”
“Is she talking?”
“No.”
“Then let me speak to her.”
“That is not happening.”
“Tell her Rachel sent the files.”
Mercer studied me.
“Why?”
“If Preston believes the evidence is already outside his control, Rachel has no value as a hostage.”
“He may panic.”
“He is already trying to kill my daughter.”
Mercer considered it.
Then he gave the order.
Within fifteen minutes, the message was delivered to Laura.
Her reaction was immediate.
She demanded an attorney.
Then she asked whether Preston knew.
Mercer returned to the room.
“You were right.”
“She is afraid of him.”
“Offer her protection.”
“That is up to the prosecutor.”
“Then call the prosecutor.”
Mercer looked at me for a long moment.
“You are very different from the woman in the wedding video.”
“That woman spent thirty-five years trying to earn a place in her family.”
“And this woman?”
“She knows better now.”
My phone buzzed.
Cassandra had sent an address.
Beneath it was a message.
THEY ARE MOVING RACHEL IN THIRTY MINUTES.
Mercer contacted a tactical unit.
The private club belonged to a trust controlled by my father.
Officially, it had been closed for renovations.
Unofficially, security cameras showed several vehicles entering overnight.
Sophie could not remain at the hospital.
Mercer arranged a safe location with a female detective named Nora Blake.
I knelt beside Sophie.
“I need to leave for a little while.”
Her eyes widened.
“Where?”
“To help someone.”
“Is it because of Uncle Preston?”
“Yes.”
She gripped my hand.
“Don’t let him hurt you.”
“I won’t.”
It was a promise I had no right to make.
Detective Blake entered.
She spoke gently to Sophie.
“I’m taking you somewhere safe.”
“Will Mommy come?”
“As soon as she can.”
Sophie looked at me.
“Mommy?”
“I will find you.”
She studied my face as if trying to decide whether to believe me.
Then she removed a small plastic bracelet from her wrist.
She had made it during a school activity.
Blue beads spelled the word BRAVE.
She wrapped it around my fingers.
“For you.”
I kissed her forehead.
“I love you.”
“I love you too.”
Mercer and I left through a private service elevator.
The tactical team gathered three blocks from the club.
Cassandra waited near the entrance to an underground tunnel.
Her wedding dress was hidden beneath a long black coat.
Dried blood marked the edge of one sleeve.
“Whose blood is that?”
She looked down.
“Thomas Reed’s.”
“What did you do?”
“He tried to stop me from leaving.”
“Is he dead?”
“No.”
Her answer came too quickly.
Mercer raised his weapon.
“Hands where I can see them.”
Cassandra lifted both hands.
“They moved Rachel downstairs.”
“Preston is with her.”
“And my father?”
“He is destroying the files.”
“Where is my mother?”
Cassandra’s eyes moved toward me.
“She is with Sophie.”
My body went cold.
“That is impossible.”
Cassandra shook her head.
“You sent Sophie away with Detective Blake.”
May you like
“Yes.”
“There is no Detective Nora Blake in the Chicago Police Department.”
