Chapter 3 - Everett didn't know why he smiled.Maybe because fear had become too large to fit inside him.
Maybe because the last person who had threatened someone under his protection had made the mistake of doing it while Everett Knox was nearby.
He quietly removed his leather vest.
Claire stared at him.
“What are you doing?”
Everett rolled his shoulders.
“Buying us time.”
“Everett…”
“Where's the back exit?”
“There isn't one.”
He looked around.
Bathroom.
Window.
Single door.
He frowned.
“Then we're going through the window.”
Another knock.
Victor's voice came through the door.
“You don't understand what you're holding.”
Everett looked toward Junie.
The child was awake now.
She sat silently on the bed.
“Mister Bear?”
Everett looked at her.
“Yeah?”
“Are those bad people?”
He looked at Claire.
She nodded.
Everett turned back.
“Yes.”
Junie hugged her unicorn pillow.
“Are you going to fight them?”
Everett paused.
“Only if they make me.”
The door exploded inward.
Two men rushed inside.
The first never reached the bed.
Everett hit him with enough force to send him crashing into the dresser.
The second pulled a gun.
Claire screamed.
Everett grabbed the mattress and threw it sideways.
The shot shattered the lamp.
“RUN!”
Claire grabbed Junie.
Everett slammed into the gunman.
The motel room became chaos.
They escaped through the bathroom window.
Claire dropped into the grass with Junie.
Everett followed.
They ran toward his Harley.
The black SUV's headlights came alive.
Claire screamed.
“That's them!”
Everett pushed Junie into the sidecar of the motorcycle.
“Hold on.”
Claire climbed behind him.
The Harley roared.
The first SUV accelerated.
Everett twisted the throttle.
Both vehicles tore down the rural highway.
Junie screamed.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
“We're flying!”
Everett glanced over his shoulder.
“Close your eyes!”
The chase lasted eight minutes.
It felt like an hour.
Everett cut through a gravel road.
The SUV followed.
He crossed a narrow wooden bridge.
The SUV hit the bridge behind him.
The boards cracked.
The driver slammed the brakes.
Everett disappeared into the trees.
They finally stopped at an abandoned barn.
Claire climbed off.
Junie was pale.
Everett crouched beside her.
“You okay?”
Junie nodded.
Then she asked something that made his heart stop.
“Why does my picture have your little girl in it?”
Everett looked at Claire.
Claire froze.
“What?”
Junie reached into her backpack.
She pulled out another photograph.
Everett stared.
It showed Lily holding a newborn baby.
Behind Lily stood Claire.
At the bottom, written in black ink:
JUNE 17 — SHE'S SAFE.
Everett took the photograph.
His fingers trembled.
“Where did you get this?”
“My grandma gave it to Mommy.”
Claire's expression changed.
“Junie…”
“I know where Mommy keeps the other one.”
Everett looked at Claire.
“What other one?”
Claire didn't answer.
Junie pointed toward the backpack.
“There's a room at Grandma's house.”
Everett stared.
“A room?”
“A room nobody is allowed to go into.”
Claire covered her face.
Everett understood.
“Your mother has been hiding evidence.”
Claire nodded.
“For six years.”
Suddenly they heard an engine.
Everett looked through the barn door.
Another vehicle was approaching.
But this time, it wasn't Victor's SUV.
It was a sheriff's cruiser.
Everett's hand moved toward his belt.
Claire whispered:
“Don't.”
The cruiser stopped.
A deputy stepped out.
He looked toward the barn.
Then raised his weapon.
“Everett Knox!”
Everett stepped into the open.
“Yeah?”
The deputy shouted:
“Step away from the girl.”
Everett's eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
The deputy lowered his weapon slightly.
“Because your daughter wasn't the only person Victor Hale buried six years ago.”
Everett froze.
The deputy looked at Claire.
Then at Junie.
May you like
Then spoke four words that changed the entire case.
“Lily is still alive.”
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