Chapter 14 - Noah Is Gone
Noah disappeared from the pediatric wing during the blackout.
Margaret had been sitting beside him.
She woke on the floor with a bruise behind her ear and an empty chair beside her.
Lauren nearly tore the hospital apart with her bare hands.
“Where are the cameras?”
“Power failure.”
“Backup?”
“Disabled.”
“By who?”
Nobody had an answer.
Hannah became almost catatonic.
“He has my son.”
Lauren held her face between both hands.
“We are getting him back.”
“You don’t understand.”
“Yes, I do.”
“No.” Hannah’s eyes were wild. “Daniel knows exactly what to do to make people obey.”
Lauren leaned closer.
“Then he forgot one thing.”
“What?”
“He trained us for nine years to stop being afraid.”
At 11:40 p.m., Nolan gathered a small team near Mill Creek.
The message said come alone.
Nobody intended to obey.
Aaron knew the quarry better than anyone. Michael knew Daniel. Hannah knew the hidden paths. Lauren refused to stay behind.
Nolan finally stopped arguing.
“Fine. But you follow every command I give you.”
Lauren said nothing.
“That was not rhetorical.”
“I heard you.”
At 11:58, a burner phone rang on the ground near the old bridge.
Nolan answered on speaker.
Daniel’s voice came through.
“Hello, Detective.”
“Where’s the boy?”
“Safe for now.”
Hannah covered her mouth.
Daniel laughed softly.
“You really did bring the whole family. Predictable.”
Michael stepped forward.
“Daniel.”
Silence.
Then: “Big brother.”
Michael’s face hardened.
“This ends tonight.”
“It ended nine years ago. You just didn’t have the courage to admit it.”
“Where is Noah?”
“Ask Dad.”
Everyone turned toward Robert.
Robert looked stunned.
“What?”
Daniel continued. “Tell them about the quarry office, Dad.”
Robert’s face drained of color.
Lauren grabbed his arm.
“What office?”
“An old maintenance building on the east ridge.”
Nolan swore.
“Why didn’t you tell us?”
“I forgot it existed.”
Aaron shook his head. “Nobody forgets that building.”
The call ended.
Nolan ordered two officers toward the ridge.
Lauren ran with Hannah behind them.
They reached the old concrete office at 12:07.
The door stood open.
Inside was a chair.
Rope on the floor.
No Noah.
But there was a phone playing a live video.
Noah sat somewhere dark, crying.
A hand held a gun against his shoulder.
Then Daniel’s face moved into frame.
May you like
“Now we can talk.”
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