Chapter 11 - The Hunting Lodge
The hunting lodge was thirty-four miles north of town, buried behind pine trees and an unmarked gravel road.
Police arrived before sunset.
Lauren was ordered to stay behind.
She did not.
Neither did Michael.
They followed at a distance until Nolan saw them and swore under her breath.
“You two are impossible.”
Lauren crossed her arms. “My daughter lost nine years here.”
Nolan pointed at a deputy. “Keep them behind the second perimeter.”
The lodge looked abandoned.
Boarded windows.
Collapsed porch.
Rust on the roof.
But smoke curled from the chimney.
Someone was inside.
Officers surrounded the building.
“Sheriff’s department! Come out with your hands visible!”
Nothing.
Then a gunshot exploded from inside.
Lauren flinched.
Michael grabbed her shoulder and pulled her behind a patrol car.
“Get down!”
Another shot.
Officers returned fire toward the dirt near the porch as a warning.
Then the front door opened.
A man stumbled outside.
Late forties.
Beard.
Blood-soaked bandage around his side.
He dropped a rifle and raised both hands.
Hannah had shown Lauren old pictures of Aaron Blake years ago without knowing who he was.
Lauren recognized him immediately.
Aaron was alive.
Paramedics rushed forward.
Aaron ignored them.
He looked past the police and saw Michael.
His face hardened.
“The coward.”
Michael stepped forward.
“You attacked me in the tunnel.”
“I should’ve done worse.”
Nolan got between them.
“Aaron, where have you been for eight years?”
Aaron laughed painfully.
“Watching Daniel.”
“Why didn’t you go to police?”
“Because I tried.”
He looked at Robert.
“Ask your golden boy what happened to Deputy Marcus Lane.”
Nolan froze.
Marcus Lane had been a sheriff’s deputy who died in a hunting accident eight years earlier.
Aaron continued.
“I gave Lane evidence. Photos. Dates. Daniel found out.”
Nolan’s face changed.
“Are you saying Daniel killed a deputy?”
“I’m saying Marcus told me he was going to arrest Daniel the next morning. He never made it home.”
Michael looked sick.
Lauren asked, “Why were you at Daniel’s house last night?”
“To get Hannah out.”
“Margaret already did.”
“I didn’t know.”
“Then whose blood was in the tunnel?” Nolan asked.
Aaron touched his bandaged side.
“Mine. Michael cut me with broken glass when we fought.”
Michael nodded slowly.
That fit.
Nolan lowered her voice.
“Why have you been watching Hannah instead of rescuing her?”
Aaron’s eyes filled.
“I did rescue her.”
Lauren went still.
“What?”
“Three years ago.”
The wind moved through the pines.
Aaron looked toward the lodge.
“She went back.”
Lauren stared at him.
“No.”
Aaron’s expression broke.
May you like
“She went back because Daniel had Noah.”
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