Chapter 13 - Mercer Biometric Systems
The Mercer campus looked like a glass palace buried in snow.
At 12:41 a.m., every light was on.
Claire sat beside Adrian in a stolen county sedan, the decoy carrier on her lap.
“What did Lucas mean about Helen Ward?”
“I don’t know.”
“That answer is becoming your brand.”
Adrian glanced at her. “You’re scared.”
“Terrified.”
“You don’t look it.”
“I’m a mother now. Apparently terror comes with better posture.”
He smiled despite himself.
For one second, they were them again.
Then the security gate opened.
Armed guards surrounded the car.
A speaker crackled.
“Exit with the child.”
Adrian looked at Claire. “Stay behind me.”
She opened her door first.
“Still bad at orders.”
They walked toward the main building.
Snow gathered in Claire’s hair.
The carrier felt terrifyingly light.
Inside the lobby, Shaw waited beside a biometric scanner.
Lucas sat tied to a chair behind her.
His face was swollen.
He looked at Adrian.
Then at Claire.
Then deliberately at the carrier.
A tiny shake of his head.
Shaw smiled. “Family reunion.”
Claire said, “You have a strange idea of Christmas.”
Shaw held out her hand. “The child.”
“No.”
“Mrs. Vale.”
“Mrs. Mercer legally, actually. Paperwork got complicated when my husband died and came back.”
Adrian murmured, “Claire.”
“What? I’m processing.”
Shaw’s smile vanished.
“Place the carrier on the scanner.”
Claire did.
The machine hummed.
DNA MATCH: PATERNAL LINE CONFIRMED.
Adrian’s eyes flicked toward Claire.
The pacifier worked.
Shaw relaxed slightly.
“Bring it to the lab.”
Adrian moved with Claire toward the elevator.
As they passed Lucas, he whispered, “Ward built Lantern.”
Adrian stopped.
A guard shoved him.
“Move.”
Lucas spoke louder. “Shaw didn’t start this.”
Shaw hit him across the face.
Claire stared at her.
“Who did?”
Shaw looked toward the security cameras.
Then smiled.
“You’re about to meet her.”
The elevator doors opened.
A woman stepped out in a dark blue suit.
Claire recognized her from television.
Deputy Attorney General Helen Ward.
Adrian’s face turned to stone.
May you like
Ward looked at him almost affectionately.
“You always were difficult to kill.”
