Chapter 9: The Hospital Lockdown
The hospital's emergency entrance was blocked by two police cruisers when Marcus arrived.
One officer stood beside the doors with his weapon drawn. Another was shouting into a radio.
Marcus abandoned his truck in the ambulance lane and ran.
"Where are the children?""
The officer raised his arm.
"Sir, you need to step back.""
Marcus shoved his club vest aside, revealing his hands.
"I'm Marcus Williams. Two children are inside. Someone called me saying they're in danger.""
The officer glanced at his partner.
"Are you the one who reported the shooting at Millbrook Cemetery?""
"Yes.""
"Then stay here. The building is under lockdown.""
Marcus stared at him.
"Why?""
"We've had a security breach.""
Raymond pulled up behind him, with Tank in the passenger seat.
Marcus pointed toward the doors.
"Let me through.""
The officer hesitated.
Then a woman in hospital scrubs ran out, crying.
"He's inside!""
Marcus caught her arm gently.
"Who?""
"The man who came for the children. He said he was their uncle. He had paperwork.""
"Did you let him in?""
"We checked his identification. Everything looked legitimate.""
Marcus felt his blood turn cold.
"Where are Lila and Noah?""
"Third floor. Pediatric ward.""
He took off running.
The stairwell smelled of disinfectant and concrete dust. His boots pounded against the steps as he climbed two flights at a time.
Raymond followed.
Tank struggled behind them, his walking stick striking the stairs with every step.
At the third-floor landing, they found Denise sitting against the wall, holding a bloody towel to her forehead.
Marcus dropped to his knees.
"Denise!""
She looked up.
"Marcus?""
"What happened?""
"Two men came in. One distracted the nurses while the other went into Noah's room. I tried to stop him.""
Marcus looked at the blood.
"Where are the children?""
Denise pointed toward the supply closet.
"I hid them.""
Marcus opened the door.
Lila sat on the floor with Noah in her lap. She had wrapped both arms around him, shielding his face against her chest.
Buttons the rabbit lay beside them.
When Lila saw Marcus, she burst into tears.
"Big M!""
He knelt and gathered both children into his arms.
"I'm here. You're safe.""
Noah clung to his jacket.
"The bad man came back.""
"I know, buddy.""
Lila looked up at him.
"He said Mommy told him to take us.""
Marcus felt his jaw tighten.
"What did he look like?""
"He had a blue shirt," Lila whispered.
"And a ring.""
Tank had reached the doorway.
He froze.
"What kind of ring?""
Lila pointed at her finger.
"Silver. With a black stone.""
Tank closed his eyes.
"Arthur.""
Raymond turned sharply.
"You mean Arthur himself?""
Tank nodded.
Marcus looked down at Lila.
"Did he say anything else?""
She swallowed.
"He said Daddy was waiting for us.""
Marcus's heart pounded.
"Did he say where?""
Lila shook her head.
Then she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out a folded paper.
"He gave me this.""
Marcus opened it.
A photograph showed Daniel Bennett tied to a wooden chair inside a dimly lit room. Blood darkened one side of his face. His eyes were swollen, but he was alive.
On the back was a message.
*Bring the ledger to the red door. Midnight. Come alone, or Daniel dies.*
Marcus looked at his watch.
11:48 p.m.
He had twelve minutes.
Raymond swore.
"He's baiting you.""
"Of course he is.""
"We need to get Price.""
Marcus looked at him.
"We don't even know if Price is alive.""
A voice came from the corridor.
"I'm alive.""
Officer Price appeared in the doorway, his uniform torn and his face bruised.
He was leaning heavily on a nurse.
Marcus rushed toward him.
"What happened?""
Price grimaced.
"Someone hit me outside the station. Took my keys, my phone, and my service weapon.""
"Who?""
"I didn't see his face.""
Price looked toward the children.
"Are they okay?""
Marcus nodded.
"For now.""
Price straightened with difficulty.
"I've got units on the way. We need to secure this floor.""
Marcus showed him the photograph.
Price studied it.
"Daniel Bennett.""
"Arthur wants the ledger in exchange for him.""
"Then we give him a decoy.""
Tank shook his head.
"He'll know.""
Price turned.
"Who are you?""
Tank hesitated.
Marcus answered for him.
"Thomas Callahan.""
Price stared.
"The dead man from the crash?""
"Apparently.""
Price looked as though he wanted to ask a dozen questions, but the urgency of the situation forced him to set them aside.
"Fine. Mr. Callahan, can you get us inside the farmhouse?""
Tank nodded.
"But not without being seen.""
Marcus looked at the children.
Lila had begun to shake again.
"Please don't go," she whispered.
He crouched in front of her.
"I have to help your daddy.""
"But the bad man will hurt you.""
Marcus took her hands.
"Listen to me, sweetheart. You're not responsible for what happens to the grown-ups. You hear me?""
She nodded, though her eyes remained frightened.
"I need you to be brave for a little longer. Denise is going to stay with you, and Officer Price will make sure nobody gets near you.""
"What if you don't come back?""
Marcus struggled to find an answer.
Then Noah reached out and grabbed his finger.
"Big M comes back," the little boy said.
Marcus looked at him.
Noah's eyes were still heavy with exhaustion, but his voice was certain.
"Big M always comes back.""
Something inside Marcus broke.
He leaned forward and kissed the boy's forehead.
"I'll do my best, little man.""
He stood.
Raymond moved beside him.
"I'm coming.""
Marcus shook his head.
"Someone has to stay here.""
"Not a chance.""
"Raymond—"
"You've been making stupid decisions since we found those kids. I'm not letting you make the stupidest one alone.""
Despite everything, Marcus almost laughed.
"Fine. You're coming.""
Tank stepped forward.
"So am I.""
Marcus studied him.
"You can barely walk.""
Tank lifted his chin.
"I can still shoot.""
Officer Price cleared his throat.
"Nobody is going anywhere without a plan. We have a hostage situation, a suspected organized-crime operation, and a possible compromised officer. I'm not sending three men into a farmhouse blind.""
Marcus handed him the ledger photographs.
"Then use these. Get your people moving.""
Price looked through the images.
His expression changed as he reached the page containing the names and payments.
"These aren't just club records.""
"What are they?""
Price looked up.
"Payments to law enforcement officers. Judges. County officials. And several people who were reported missing over the last twenty years.""
Marcus felt his stomach tighten.
"Can you get a warrant?""
"Not in twelve minutes.""
"Then we don't have twelve minutes.""
Price took a breath.
"There's an old service road behind the farmhouse. If you approach from the north, you can reach the barn without crossing the main yard. I'll send two officers to cover the road while I coordinate a tactical response.""
Tank shook his head.
"Arthur will have lookouts there.""
"Then we need to move quickly.""
Marcus took the brass key from his pocket.
He looked at Raymond.
"Let's go.""
Before they left, Lila ran toward him and wrapped both arms around his waist.
"Bring Daddy home," she whispered.
Marcus rested his hand on her head.
"I will try.""
She stepped back and pulled something from her backpack.
It was a small plastic container filled with mashed potatoes.
"I saved this for him, too.""
Marcus stared at the container.
After everything that had happened, she had still been thinking about feeding her father.
He took it gently.
"I'll make sure he gets it.""
Then he followed Raymond and Tank toward the stairs.
Outside, the snow had thickened into a white curtain.
The farmhouse stood twelve miles away, with its red door and its hidden tunnel.
Daniel Bennett was waiting inside.
Arthur Mercer had the evidence.
And somewhere in that building, Marcus suspected, was the answer to the question that had haunted his entire life.
Who was his real father?
As the truck pulled onto Route 9, his phone vibrated.
A final message appeared from the unknown number.
*Ask Tank why he never told you about the baby in the river.*
Marcus turned slowly toward the passenger seat.
Tank was staring straight ahead.
His face had gone ashen.
Marcus gripped the phone.
"What baby?""
Tank didn't answer.
"Tank.""
The old biker closed his eyes.
May you like
Then he whispered six words that changed everything.
"Your daughter wasn't the only child.""
