Chapter 12 - The Bargain
Hannah had escaped three years earlier.
For twelve days, she and Noah lived in Aaron’s lodge under new names.
Aaron had spent years creating a way out.
Cash.
Fake documents.
A car registered under someone else’s name.
A route to Canada.
They almost made it.
Then Daniel found Noah at a motel while Hannah was buying food.
“He sent her a video,” Aaron explained at the hospital later that night. “Noah tied to a chair. Daniel said she had one hour to come back.”
Lauren sat beside Hannah’s bed.
Hannah stared at her hands.
“So I went back.”
Lauren’s heart broke in a new place.
“Why didn’t you call me?”
Hannah looked up.
“Because every time I tried to reach you, Daniel knew.”
“How?”
“I thought he had someone in the police department.”
Nolan frowned.
“Marcus Lane?”
“No. After Marcus died.”
“Who?”
Hannah shook her head.
“I never knew.”
Aaron leaned against the wall with fresh stitches in his side.
“I think that’s why Daniel survived this long.”
Michael stood near the door.
Lauren did not want him there, but Hannah had asked him to stay.
Not because she forgave him.
Because she wanted answers.
“You knew Aaron was alive?” she asked Michael.
“No.”
“Did Daniel ever mention Marcus Lane?”
Michael hesitated.
“Yes.”
Lauren closed her eyes.
“Of course he did.”
Michael accepted the anger.
“Daniel said Lane was asking questions after Anthony disappeared. Then Lane died. I suspected Daniel knew more than he said.”
“You suspected.”
“Yes.”
Hannah looked at him.
“You had nine years to stop suspecting and start speaking.”
Michael nodded.
“I know.”
Nolan’s phone rang.
She stepped out, then returned two minutes later with her jaw set.
“Daniel’s transport van never made it to county court.”
Everyone froze.
“What happened?” Lauren asked.
“Someone forced it off the road.”
“Is Daniel dead?”
“No.”
Nolan’s voice went hard.
“He’s gone.”
Hannah’s face drained of color.
Aaron pushed off the wall.
“How?”
“One deputy is injured. The other is missing.”
Lauren stood.
“Who knew the route?”
“Dispatch. Court staff. Sheriff’s command.”
Hannah whispered, “The person inside.”
Nolan looked at her.
“What?”
“The person helping Daniel.”
A knock came at the door.
A nurse stepped in holding a bouquet of white lilies.
“These were delivered for Hannah.”
Lauren’s blood turned cold.
There was no card.
Just a folded piece of paper tucked beneath the ribbon.
Nolan opened it with gloves.
Three words were written inside.
May you like
YOU CAME BACK.
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