Chapter 12 - Raven Mountain
Grant entered the forest before Ruiz could stop him.
I followed.
Rain moved through the trees in silver sheets.
Flashlights cut across wet branches and steep rocks.
Lily’s footprints continued away from the burning vehicle.
She had either escaped or been forced to walk.
The adult tracks remained several yards behind hers.
That distance mattered.
If someone had been holding her, the prints would have overlapped.
Lily had run first.
Someone chased her.
Grant called her name.
Ruiz ordered him to remain quiet.
“We do not know who is listening.”
The trail descended toward the reservoir.
A collapsed ranger cabin appeared between the trees.
The door was open.
Inside, we found Charles Wynn.
Edmund’s assistant was tied to a chair.
A cloth had been forced into his mouth.
Harris removed it.
“Where is Lily?”
Wynn coughed violently.
“Renata took her.”
“You helped her enter the mansion.”
“Adrian had my daughter.”
Ruiz examined the restraints.
“He forced you?”
Wynn nodded.
“He said he would release her after I gave Renata the security code.”
“Where is your daughter?”
“I do not know.”
“Where did Renata take Lily?”
“The sanatorium.”
“Why is her vehicle burning here?”
“Adrian sent men to intercept them.”
Grant grabbed Wynn’s shoulders.
“Adrian wants Lily dead?”
“He wants everyone dead.”
Wynn looked terrified.
“He knows Renata has evidence against him.”
Renata had kidnapped Lily to obtain Claire’s files.
Adrian sent men to eliminate both of them before Renata could negotiate.
The woman who abused Lily might also be running from the person who wanted her killed.
A gunshot echoed near the reservoir.
We ran.
At the edge of the water, a man lay wounded beside a fallen tree.
He wore tactical clothing.
A rifle rested several feet away.
Harris recognized him as a former Hale security contractor.
“Adrian hired him.”
Ruiz handcuffed the man while a medic treated him.
“Who shot you?”
“Renata.”
“Where is the child?”
He laughed through clenched teeth.
“Still running.”
Grant seized the rifle.
Harris took it from him.
“We follow the shoreline.”
A faint cry rose beyond the trees.
“Daddy!”
Grant broke into a sprint.
Lily emerged from the darkness.
Her dress was torn near one knee.
Mud covered her shoes.
Grant dropped to the ground and caught her.
She wrapped both arms around him.
“I ran.”
“You did exactly right.”
He kissed her wet hair.
“I am so sorry.”
Renata appeared several yards behind her.
She held a handgun.
Ruiz raised her weapon.
“Drop it.”
Renata did not point the gun toward us.
She kept it aimed at the trees.
“They are coming.”
“Put the weapon down.”
“Adrian sent four men. I stopped one.”
“Where are the others?”
A branch snapped.
Gunfire erupted.
Ruiz pushed me and Lily behind a rock.
Harris fired toward the trees.
Grant covered his daughter with his body.
Renata returned fire.
One of Adrian’s men fell.
The others retreated toward the ridge.
Police teams moved in from the road.
Within minutes, the forest became silent again.
Renata lowered her gun.
Ruiz approached and handcuffed her.
“You kidnapped a child.”
“I removed her from a compromised house.”
“You assaulted two officers.”
“They were working for Adrian.”
Ruiz’s expression changed.
The officer found unconscious near Lily’s room had a recent deposit from a Hale subsidiary connected to Adrian.
Renata smiled bitterly.
“You still think the police are protecting her?”
Grant held Lily closer.
“You burned her.”
Renata’s face hardened.
“I lost control.”
“You tortured her for years.”
“I kept her silent.”
“Because she saw you kill Claire.”
Renata looked at Lily.
The child hid her face against Grant’s chest.
“I did not intend for Claire to fall.”
Lily turned.
“You let go.”
Renata flinched.
“She slipped.”
“You pulled her fingers.”
The rain seemed to stop around us.
Lily continued.
“Mommy held the rail.”
Grant stared at Renata.
“You pried her hands loose.”
Renata’s eyes filled with something that might have been regret.
“Adrian had a gun.”
Lily shook her head.
“No.”
Renata’s voice sharpened.
“You were six years old.”
“I was five.”
“You do not remember.”
“I remember Mommy asking you to help.”
Lily’s voice grew stronger.
“You smiled.”
Renata looked away.
Lily continued.
“Then you stepped on her hand.”
Grant made a sound that did not resemble a word.
Ruiz tightened the handcuffs.
Renata’s composure collapsed.
“I had no choice.”
“There is always a choice,” I said.
She glared at me.
“You know nothing.”
“I know Lily remembers.”
Renata began laughing.
The sound was broken and desperate.
“You all believe the child because she finally spoke.”
She turned toward Grant.
“Ask her who placed Claire on the bridge.”
Lily went still.
“Ask her why Claire was already bleeding before I touched her.”
Grant looked at his daughter.
Lily’s eyes filled with tears.
“The man hurt Mommy.”
“Which man?” Grant asked carefully.
Lily pointed toward Renata.
“Her lawyer.”
Simon Crowe had been on the bridge before Adrian and Renata appeared.
Renata leaned closer.
“Crowe did not flee to the Caribbean.”
Ruiz stared at her.
“Where is he?”
May you like
Renata looked toward the abandoned sanatorium on the mountain above us.
“He is waiting for Adrian.”
