Chapter 9 - HUNTING JULIAN
Julian's ankle monitor had been found inside a hotel bathroom.
Cut cleanly.
His car was discovered two blocks away.
His phone was inside.
So was his wallet.
But Julian was gone.
Federal authorities joined the search.
Airports.
Private airfields.
Train stations.
Border crossings.
Nothing.
“He had help,” Marcus said.
We were sitting in a quiet conference room inside the hospital.
“Arthur?”
“Possibly.”
“Miriam?”
“In custody.”
“Then who?”
Marcus placed a photograph on the table.
A man in his late forties.
Suit.
Military haircut.
“Who is he?”
“Caleb Mercer.”
The name meant nothing to me.
“Former head of security for the Thornes.”
“Former?”
“Officially resigned six months ago.”
“And unofficially?”
Marcus slid another document toward me.
“He still gets paid.”
Audrey walked into the room with a nurse.
The second she saw the photograph, she stopped.
“That man.”
I stood.
“You know him?”
“He guarded the basement.”
My blood went cold.
“What?”
“Not every day.”
She pointed at the photograph.
“When Julian traveled, Caleb watched me.”
“Did he hurt you?”
Audrey hesitated.
That was enough.
I moved toward the door.
“Dad.”
I stopped.
“He didn't hit me.”
I turned.
“He just watched.”
“Watched what?”
“When they punished me.”
Marcus closed his eyes.
Audrey continued.
“And he brought Julian things.”
“What things?”
“Cameras.”
“Anything else?”
She thought.
“Medication.”
Marcus's phone rang.
He answered.
Listened.
Then stood.
“They found Caleb's truck.”
“Where?”
“Old Thorne hunting property.”
Arthur owned over three hundred acres in the Blue Ridge foothills.
Dense forest.
Abandoned cabin.
Private road.
Perfect place to disappear.
Police surrounded the property before dawn.
I wasn't allowed to go.
I went anyway.
Rachel met me at the roadblock.
“You cannot be here.”
“My daughter is safe at the hospital.”
“Then stay with her.”
“I spent eight months staying away because people told me to.”
She stared at me.
“That argument is annoyingly effective.”
“Thank you.”
“Stay behind the line.”
Gunshots echoed from the woods.
One.
Then two.
Everyone moved.
Officers rushed toward the cabin.
Ten minutes later, Caleb Mercer came out with his hands raised.
Alone.
“Where is Julian?” Rachel shouted.
Caleb smiled.
“Gone.”
They searched the cabin.
Food.
Cash.
False IDs.
One open suitcase.
And a computer.
On it was a live camera feed.
Audrey's hospital room.
My stomach dropped.
Someone had been watching her.
Someone inside the hospital.
I called her immediately.
No answer.
Again.
Nothing.
I looked at Marcus.
“Call the nurse.”
He did.
His face changed.
“What?”
“She's not in the room.”
Every sound around me disappeared.
“Where is she?”
Marcus listened.
Then looked at me.
“The security camera shows her leaving with a nurse ten minutes ago.”
“Which nurse?”
May you like
Marcus swallowed.
“There is no nurse by that name.”
