Chapter 6 - THE EMPTY CRIB
Ethan reached the hospital in less than ten minutes.
Sheriff Cole was already there.
The nursery was surrounded by police officers.
The triplets had been moved to a secured room.
Two babies were inside.
One crib was empty.
Ethan's heart stopped.
“Where is my son?”
No one answered.
He grabbed the nurse.
“Where is he?”
“We don't know.”
“How does a baby disappear from a locked hospital room?”
The nurse began crying.
“There was a power interruption.”
“How long?”
“Forty seconds.”
“Forty seconds?”
Sheriff Cole stepped in.
“We're reviewing the cameras.”
“Review faster.”
Ethan entered the room.
The crib was empty.
The baby blanket lay on the floor.
A small stuffed bear sat beneath it.
Ethan picked it up.
There was a note tied around the bear's neck.
One child for one secret.
Ethan's blood ran cold.
Mara stood in the doorway.
She saw the note.
Her face turned white.
“It's him.”
Ethan looked at her.
“Who?”
“The man from the church.”
“What man?”
“The man who was looking for me.”
Sheriff Cole turned.
“You saw him?”
“Yes.”
“What did he look like?”
Mara closed her eyes.
“Tall. Black jacket. Scar on his right cheek.”
Sheriff Cole immediately gave orders.
“Send his description to every unit.”
Ethan stared at the note.
“What secret?”
Mara looked at him.
“The flash drive.”
Ethan's phone buzzed.
A message.
Bring the drive to the old train station. Alone.
Another message appeared.
You have two hours.
Ethan looked at Mara.
“You're coming with me.”
Sheriff Cole shook his head.
“Absolutely not.”
Ethan turned.
“My son is missing.”
“And if you walk into a trap, you may lose him forever.”
Ethan looked at the empty crib.
“I don't care.”
Mara stepped forward.
“I know where the train station is.”
Ethan looked at her.
“How?”
“My father used to take me there.”
Sheriff Cole stared.
“Then you're not going.”
Mara's expression hardened.
“If you want to find the baby, you need me.”
The sheriff opened his mouth.
Ethan interrupted.
“She comes.”
“Mr. Whitmore—”
“I said she comes.”
The old train station had been abandoned for fifteen years.
Ethan arrived at 2:04 a.m.
The building was dark.
Rain fell heavily.
Mara sat beside him in the car.
“You shouldn't have come,” Ethan said.
“You shouldn't have come alone.”
He looked at her.
“I'm not alone.”
For the first time, Mara almost smiled.
Then the smile disappeared.
A light turned on inside the station.
A baby cried.
Ethan opened the car door.
Mara grabbed his arm.
“Wait.”
“What?”
“Look.”
A figure stood inside the station.
The man with the scar.
Beside him stood Caleb Rourke.
Ethan's face went cold.
Caleb held the missing baby.
Ethan stepped out of the car.
“Put my son down.”
Caleb smiled.
“You came.”
“Give him to me.”
“Where is the drive?”
Ethan held it up.
Caleb's eyes moved toward it.
“Throw it.”
Ethan didn't move.
“First, my son.”
Caleb shook his head.
“You don't negotiate from a weak position.”
Ethan looked at the baby.
The child was crying.
Mara whispered:
“His breathing sounds wrong.”
Ethan heard it.
The baby was struggling.
“Give him to me.”
Caleb's expression changed.
For one second, something like regret crossed his face.
Then the man with the scar raised a gun.
“Throw the drive.”
Ethan threw it.
The drive landed on the floor.
The scarred man moved toward it.
Mara suddenly shouted:
“Now!”
She threw a rock through a window.
The sound startled the man.
Ethan charged.
The man raised his weapon.
A gunshot exploded.
Ethan tackled Caleb.
The baby fell.
Mara caught him.
Sheriff Cole and his deputies stormed the station.
The scarred man escaped through the rear exit.
Caleb was pinned to the floor.
Ethan stood over him.
“You tried to kill my son.”
Caleb looked up.
“No.”
“You kidnapped him.”
“I was trying to save him.”
Ethan stared.
“What?”
Caleb's face was filled with desperation.
“You don't understand.”
“Then explain.”
Caleb looked toward Mara.
“She knows.”
Mara froze.
Caleb whispered:
“Ask her what happened to her father.”
Mara's face went pale.
Then Caleb looked at Ethan.
“Your wife found out the truth.”
Ethan stepped closer.
“What truth?”
Caleb's eyes filled with tears.
“Your father didn't steal from you.”
May you like
He swallowed.
“Thomas Bennett was murdered.”
