Chapter 8: The Bargain
I nearly ran straight through the glass.
“Lucas!””
Richard caught me.
“Grace, think.””
“My son is with them!””
“He's alive.””
“You don't know that!””
“I know Daniel.””
My mother stepped between us.
“Richard is right.””
I stared at her.
“How can you say that?””
“Because if Daniel wanted Lucas dead, he wouldn't have shown us the photograph.””
“He wants something.””
“Yes.””
“The card.””
My mother nodded.
“The research.””
I looked at the microSD card in my palm.
“They'll trade Lucas for it.””
Richard shook his head.
“No.””
I looked at him.
“Then what do you suggest?””
“We make them think we gave it to them.””
Claire frowned.
“How?””
Richard looked toward the security desk.
“Cameras.””
The hospital's emergency lighting had come back on.
A security officer hurried toward us.
“Ma'am, we have a problem.””
“I know,” I said.
He handed me a phone.
“Your brother's number is calling.””
Lucas.
I answered immediately.
“Lucas?””
Nothing.
Then his breathing.
“Grace?””
I closed my eyes.
“Oh, thank God.””
His voice shook.
“Don't give them anything.””
My heart stopped.
“What?””
“They're listening.””
A man's voice came through.
“That's enough.””
The call ended.
I looked at my mother.
“Where is he?””
She shook her head.
“We need to find the signal.””
The security officer looked at the phone.
“I can trace it.””
“Do it.””
He disappeared toward the control room.
Richard took the microSD card from me.
“Give me that.””
“No.””
“Grace, if they get it—”
“I know what they want.””
“And?””
“I want Lucas back.””
Richard looked at me.
“So do I.””
My mother interrupted.
“There's something you don't know.””
I turned.
“What?””
“The card isn't the only copy.””
Richard stared at her.
“You made another?””
“Yes.””
“Where?””
My mother looked at me.
“In your old house.””
I felt a chill.
“The house where I grew up?””
She nodded.
“Daniel never found it.””
“Why?””
“Because he thought you destroyed everything.””
Claire said quietly, “So the card in Grace's necklace is bait.””
My mother nodded.
“Exactly.””
Richard smiled.
“For once, I like your plan.””
We moved toward the security office.
The hospital staff had barricaded the main entrance.
Outside, police sirens approached.
The security officer pulled up the phone's location.
“Got it.””
He pointed to the map.
“Industrial district.””
“Where exactly?””
“An abandoned textile warehouse.””
Richard's face tightened.
“I know that place.””
My mother looked at him.
“Of course you do.””
He didn't answer.
I grabbed his arm.
“You've been there?””
“Years ago.””
“What happened there?””
He looked at Claire.
“That's where Daniel transferred the babies.””
My stomach turned.
“You're telling me Lucas is there?””
“Most likely.””
“Then let's go.””
The police arrived five minutes later.
We told them everything.
The officers wanted to keep me at the hospital.
I refused.
“That's my child.””
One officer sighed.
“Ms. Brooks, this is dangerous.””
“I know.””
“You cannot go in.””
“I don't have to.””
I held up the microSD card.
“They'll come for this.””
The officer understood.
“We'll use it to draw them out.””
An hour later, we were outside the warehouse.
Rain hammered the pavement.
The building was enormous.
Rust covered the metal walls.
No lights.
No cars.
Except one black SUV.
My mother stood beside me.
“You stay behind me.””
I almost laughed.
“You missed twelve years and now you want to be protective?””
She smiled sadly.
“I've been protective every day.””
“Then prove it.””
She nodded.
We entered.
The smell hit me first.
Oil.
Mold.
Something metallic.
A single light hung above the center of the warehouse.
Lucas sat beneath it.
His hands were tied.
His face was bruised.
“Lucas!””
He looked up.
“Grace!””
I started forward.
A gunshot struck the floor.
I froze.
Daniel stepped from the shadows.
Vanessa was beside him.
And behind them stood three men.
Daniel looked at the microSD card.
“Give it to me.””
“Let Lucas go.””
“First the card.””
“No.””
He smiled.
“You really are your mother's daughter.””
My mother stepped forward.
“Daniel.””
He looked at her.
For several seconds, nobody spoke.
Then he laughed.
“I buried you once.””
“You tried.””
“I should have finished the job.””
“You should have.””
Vanessa looked confused.
“You knew she was alive?””
Daniel ignored her.
My mother said, “You never understood the problem.””
“What problem?””
“You thought knowledge was power.””
She looked at me.
“It isn't.””
“Then what is?””
“Proof.””
The lights suddenly switched on.
Every corner of the warehouse illuminated.
Police officers appeared behind the pillars.
Daniel spun around.
“What?””
The officer shouted, “Drop your weapon!””
Daniel raised his gun.
Vanessa screamed.
Everything happened at once.
One of the men ran.
Another dropped to his knees.
Daniel grabbed Lucas and pulled him against his chest.
“Back off!””
I screamed.
“Let him go!””
He pressed the gun against Lucas's head.
“Give me the card.””
I held it up.
“Take it.””
My mother grabbed my arm.
“Grace, no.””
I looked at Lucas.
His eyes were terrified.
I couldn't gamble with his life.
I threw the card onto the floor.
Daniel shoved Lucas away.
The police rushed forward.
Vanessa grabbed the card.
She picked it up.
Then she stared at Daniel.
“You promised me.””
Daniel looked at her.
“What?””
“You promised Emma would be enough.””
His face changed.
“You knew.””
“I knew everything.””
The police arrested her.
Daniel tried to run.
He made it three steps.
Then Richard tackled him.
The gun skidded across the floor.
Lucas ran into my arms.
I held him so tightly he could barely breathe.
“I'm here.””
He sobbed.
“I knew you'd come.””
“I always will.””
Behind us, my mother watched.
Then Claire shouted.
“Grace!””
I turned.
She was holding the microSD card.
The one I had thrown.
She looked at me.
“This isn't the real one.””
I stared.
“What?””
Claire smiled.
“You gave Daniel the copy.””
My mother nodded.
“The original is still with Grace.””
I reached into my pocket.
The second card was there.
Safe.
But before I could celebrate, Daniel laughed from the floor.
“You think you've won?””
I looked at him.
“What else could you possibly have?””
He smiled.
“You still don't know who your father is.””
Then someone behind him spoke.
“I do.””
Every head turned.
A man stepped out of the shadows.
Older.
Gray-haired.
His face scarred.
My mother went completely still.
Richard whispered:
“No…”
The man looked at me.
“Grace.””
I stared at him.
I knew those eyes.
I'd seen them in the mirror my entire life.
My mother began to cry.
“I'm sorry.””
May you like
The man smiled.
“I've been waiting twelve years to meet my daughter.””
