Chapter 13 - THE LAST ROOM
Arthur hit the basement floor at full speed.
“LEO!”
No answer.
He ran past empty treatment rooms.
“LEO!”
A door slammed.
Arthur followed the sound.
At the end of the corridor, Daniel dragged Leo by the arm.
The boy fought him.
“Let go!”
Daniel struck him across the face.
Arthur saw red.
“GET YOUR HANDS OFF HIM!”
Daniel turned.
He placed the gun against Leo’s head.
Arthur stopped.
Leo was crying.
“Dad.”
“I’m here.”
Daniel backed toward an exit.
“Stay where you are.”
Arthur raised his hands.
“Okay.”
“Dad,” Leo whispered, “don’t.”
Arthur kept his eyes on Daniel.
“What do you want?”
“A car.”
“Take mine.”
“And time.”
“You have it.”
“And no police.”
“Fine.”
Daniel laughed.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
“So are you.”
Daniel’s smile faded.
Arthur stepped forward.
The gun pressed harder against Leo.
“Stop.”
Arthur stopped.
Then Victoria appeared behind Daniel.
She held the gun she had taken from the house.
Daniel didn’t see her.
Arthur did.
For one dangerous second, their eyes met.
Victoria raised the weapon.
Her hands shook.
Daniel saw Arthur’s gaze shift.
He turned.
Victoria fired.
The bullet hit Daniel in the shoulder.
Leo dropped.
Arthur lunged forward and pulled his son away.
Daniel fired wildly.
Victoria screamed and fell.
Arthur covered Leo with his body.
Daniel stumbled through the exit.
Elena came running down the corridor with Sofia.
“Arthur!”
“Get Leo!”
Elena took the boy.
Arthur looked at Victoria.
Blood spread across her abdomen.
She was conscious.
Barely.
Arthur knelt beside her.
“Why?”
Victoria laughed weakly.
“That’s a big question.”
“Why did you help him?”
Tears filled her eyes.
“My father owed Daniel money.”
Arthur stared.
“He found me when I was twenty-three.”
“He forced you?”
“At first.”
“And later?”
Victoria looked away.
“Later I liked the money.”
Arthur’s face hardened.
“I liked the house. The trips. The clothes. I told myself Leo would only be there for a few days.”
“You chained him.”
“I know.”
“You lied to him.”
“I know.”
“You broke him.”
Victoria looked toward Leo.
“He was stronger than I thought.”
Arthur’s jaw tightened.
“That doesn’t make what you did better.”
“No.”
She coughed.
“I know.”
Sirens wailed outside.
Victoria grabbed Arthur’s sleeve.
“Daniel has a tunnel.”
“What?”
“Behind the boiler room.”
“Where does it go?”
“Old quarry.”
Arthur stood.
Victoria held on.
“Arthur.”
He looked down.
“I’m sorry.”
Arthur stared at the woman he had loved.
Maybe part of him still did.
That made him hate himself.
“Tell Leo that.”
He walked away.
At the boiler room, Reed met him.
“Daniel’s moving east.”
“Nolan?”
“Alive. Paramedics have him.”
Arthur exhaled.
“What about Victoria?”
“They’re getting her.”
Arthur pointed to the hidden tunnel.
“He went that way.”
Reed started forward.
Arthur joined him.
“No.”
“He has the evidence.”
“You’re not police.”
“He has my mother’s drive.”
“Arthur.”
“He also has a twelve-year head start.”
Reed stared at him.
Then handed Arthur a flashlight.
“Stay behind me.”
They entered.
The tunnel narrowed through wet stone.
At the far end, moonlight appeared.
They emerged near an abandoned quarry.
A car engine roared.
Daniel’s sedan shot across the gravel.
Reed raised his weapon.
“Police! Stop!”
Daniel accelerated.
Arthur saw where he was heading.
Not toward the road.
Toward a cliff edge.
“What is he doing?”
The car skidded to a stop inches from the drop.
Daniel got out.
He held the flash drive.
Arthur walked forward.
Daniel smiled.
“You want this?”
“Put it down.”
Daniel stepped backward.
Loose stones fell into the darkness behind him.
“You still don’t understand.”
Arthur stopped.
“What?”
Daniel lifted the drive.
“This was never the only copy.”
Then he opened his hand.
The flash drive dropped over the cliff.
Arthur stared in horror.
Daniel smiled.
May you like
“And neither was Leo the last child.”
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