Chapter 6 - Everett ripped the phone from Junie's hand.“Where is Lily?”
Silence.
Then Richard Knox laughed softly.
“Still barking, Everett?”
Everett's face went cold.
“You're supposed to be dead.”
“So is Lily.”
Everett gripped the phone harder.
“Touch my granddaughter and I will find you.”
“You already did.”
The call ended.
Claire looked at Everett.
“He knows we're here.”
Everett nodded.
“Then we're leaving.”
They packed only what they could carry.
The archive.
The letters.
The photographs.
Price insisted on coming.
But before they reached the door, he stopped.
“There are two cars outside.”
Everett looked through the curtain.
A black sedan.
A gray SUV.
No police.
No movement.
Claire whispered:
“They're waiting.”
Everett glanced at Junie.
“There's another way.”
He led them through the basement.
A hidden door opened into the forest.
They ran.
Branches scratched their faces.
Junie stumbled.
Everett carried her.
Behind them, engines started.
Claire looked over her shoulder.
“They're coming.”
Everett ran faster.
They reached an old church.
The doors were unlocked.
Inside, everything was dark.
They hid behind the altar.
A minute later, footsteps entered.
Two men.
Then a woman.
The woman whispered:
“Search the building.”
Everett recognized her voice.
Claire did too.
“No…”
“What?”
“That's Dr. Mara Voss.”
Everett frowned.
“Who?”
“She was Lily's doctor.”
Footsteps approached.
Everett peeked through the pews.
A woman in a black coat stood beneath the church's stained-glass window.
Then she removed her sunglasses.
Everett recognized her.
She was the doctor who had signed Lily's death certificate.
The woman spoke into her phone.
“They haven't reached the river.”
Everett's eyes narrowed.
“Doctor Voss?”
She turned.
Her face changed.
“Everett.”
He stepped out.
“How much did they pay you?”
She looked terrified.
“I didn't kill Lily.”
“Then who did?”
“I don't know.”
Everett stepped closer.
“Where is my daughter?”
Dr. Voss looked toward Junie.
“I helped her survive.”
Everett froze.
“She was alive?”
“Yes.”
“Where?”
Dr. Voss shook her head.
“Not here.”
A gunshot suddenly shattered one of the stained-glass windows.
The doctor screamed.
Everett dragged Claire and Junie behind the altar.
One of the men fell.
The other ran.
Dr. Voss crawled toward Everett.
“Listen to me.”
Everett leaned closer.
“Lily is alive.”
“We know.”
“No.”
Dr. Voss's eyes filled with tears.
“She is dying.”
Everett stopped.
“What?”
“She has cancer.”
Claire covered her mouth.
“No…”
“She knew she wouldn't survive.”
Everett's face collapsed.
“How long?”
Dr. Voss looked at Junie.
“Maybe three months.”
Everett stared at the little girl.
Then the doctor spoke again.
“But she doesn't know Junie survived.”
Everett looked up.
“Why?”
“Because Victor has been watching her for six years.”
Everett clenched his fists.
“Where is she?”
Dr. Voss hesitated.
Then whispered:
“She is being kept in a private medical facility.”
“Where?”
“Ninety miles north.”
Everett stood.
“Let's go.”
Dr. Voss grabbed his arm.
“You don't understand.”
Everett turned.
“What?”
“The facility is owned by Richard Knox.”
Silence.
“He isn't hiding Lily.”
May you like
Dr. Voss whispered:
“He's using her.”
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