Chapter 10 - FIVE MINUTES
The countdown began.
4:59.
4:58.
4:57.
Grant examined the steel wall.
“There must be another entrance.”
My mother pounded weakly from the other side.
“Emma, listen to me.”
“We’re getting you out.”
“No.”
“You need to listen.”
The lights flashed red.
My mother’s voice shook.
“Claire was alive when they brought her to Saint Matthew’s.”
Grant froze.
“What?”
“She survived the crash.”
My mother coughed.
“She woke up in the emergency room.”
“She gave me something.”
Grant pressed both hands against the wall.
“What did she give you?”
“A memory card.”
“She said Malcolm had ordered the crash.”
“She said Renata drugged her.”
“Where is the card?”
“I hid it.”
“Where?” I asked.
My mother began crying.
“I wanted to tell the police.”
“But a detective came into the room.”
“He took Claire’s chart.”
“He turned off the machines.”
Grant staggered backward.
“No.”
“She did not die from the crash,” my mother said.
“He killed her in the hospital.”
The countdown reached three minutes.
Mara found a maintenance panel.
She tore it open.
Wires filled the space.
“There are two circuits.”
“One opens the wall.”
“The other triggers the explosives.”
“Which one is which?” I asked.
“There’s no label.”
Grant studied the wiring.
“I know this system.”
He pointed toward a black cable.
“Plant emergency doors used independent power.”
“If we cut the red circuit first, the lock should release.”
“Should?” Mara asked.
Grant grabbed the cutters.
“I was sixteen when my father showed me these tunnels.”
“That was twenty-five years ago.”
“Do you have a better idea?”
The countdown reached one minute.
Grant cut the red wire.
Nothing happened.
My mother screamed from behind the wall.
A mechanical sound started beneath the floor.
“Wrong wire,” Mara said.
Grant cut the black cable.
The steel wall lifted six inches.
I dropped to the floor.
“Mom!”
I saw her shoes.
Smoke filled the space behind her.
Grant and Mara forced their hands beneath the door.
I joined them.
Together, we lifted it high enough to crawl under.
My mother sat tied to a chair.
A tank of clear liquid stood beside her.
Wires connected it to the clock.
Thirty seconds remained.
I cut the ropes.
Grant lifted my mother.
Mara examined the explosive device.
“We can’t disarm it.”
“Run!”
We crawled beneath the door.
Grant carried my mother.
I followed.
Mara came last.
The countdown reached zero.
Nothing happened.
The clock went dark.
A slow clap echoed from the upper walkway.
Renata stood above us.
She wore black pants and a red scarf.
A gun rested in her hand.
“You were always so dramatic, Grant.”
Grant lowered my mother gently.
“You planned all of this.”
Renata smiled.
“I planned more than you will ever understand.”
Malcolm appeared beside her.
He held Lily by the shoulder.
My heart stopped.
Lily’s face was streaked with tears.
Nadia stood behind them with her hands bound.
Grant stared upward.
“How did you get her?”
Malcolm smiled.
“You taught me your security system.”
Grant stepped forward.
Renata aimed the gun at Lily.
“Do not move.”
Lily looked at me.
“I’m sorry, Emma.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.”
Malcolm held out his hand.
“The memory card.”
My mother looked at me.
“I don’t have it.”
Malcolm’s expression changed.
“You said you hid it.”
“I did.”
“Where?”
My mother looked directly at Lily.
“Inside the song her mother taught her.”
May you like
Lily’s eyes widened.
Then she began singing.
