Chapter 8
The Boy Who Remembered Everything
Michael did not remember crossing the front lawn.
One second he was inside the mansion.
The next he was outside screaming Lucas’s name.
Briggs grabbed him before he reached the driveway.
“Stop.”
“My son is gone!”
“I know.”
“Then let me go!”
“Where?”
Michael froze.
She was right.
No car.
No direction.
No idea.
Panic had become useless motion.
Briggs turned toward the officers.
“Lock down the property. Traffic cameras. Plate readers. Every road.”
Emily held Sophie against her chest.
Sophie was hysterical.
“He went outside because Barnaby was in the car!”
Michael turned.
“What?”
Sophie sobbed.
“Lucas said he forgot him.”
Michael looked toward the SUV.
The rear passenger door was open.
Barnaby lay on the gravel.
Bait.
Someone knew exactly how to get Lucas outside.
Michael’s phone rang.
Unknown number.
He answered immediately.
“Where is my son?”
A distorted voice spoke.
“Bring the red journal.”
Michael looked at Briggs.
She signaled for him to keep talking.
“I have it.”
“Cedar Point Lodge. One hour.”
“Let me hear Lucas.”
Silence.
“Let me hear my son!”
Then Lucas’s voice.
“Dad?”
Michael nearly collapsed.
“I’m here.”
“I’m okay.”
A slap of sound.
Not against Lucas.
Maybe a door.
Then the distorted voice returned.
“One hour. No police.”
The call ended.
Michael looked at Briggs.
“I’m going.”
“So are we.”
“They said no police.”
“They always say that.”
Victoria stepped forward.
“Pike knows law-enforcement procedure.”
Briggs looked at her.
“He’ll detect a tail.”
“Yes.”
Michael turned.
“Then I go alone.”
“No.”
Victoria’s voice was immediate.
“This is because of me.”
Michael glared.
“Everything is not about your guilt.”
“No.”
She swallowed.
“But Pike expects me to be afraid.”
She looked at Briggs.
“He won’t expect me to betray him in person.”
Michael hated that she had a point.
They built a plan in thirteen minutes.
Michael would drive alone.
The journal would be in a bag.
Victoria would hide in the rear cargo compartment under a blanket and equipment case.
Briggs would track from a distance without using standard police vehicles.
No sirens.
No radio traffic near the location.
Emily stayed with Sophie.
Before Michael left, Sophie grabbed his hand.
“Bring Lucas back.”
He knelt.
“I will.”
“Promise?”
Michael’s throat tightened.
Promises had become dangerous things.
Still, he said it.
“I promise.”
The drive north felt endless.
Rain began halfway there.
Just like the night Rachel died.
Michael gripped the wheel.
Cedar Point Lodge appeared through trees near the lake.
Abandoned.
Boarded windows.
Faded sign.
He parked.
A text arrived.
ROOM 12.
Michael carried the bag.
Victoria remained hidden.
He crossed the lot.
Room 12 stood open.
Inside, one lamp burned.
Lucas sat on a chair.
Hands free.
No visible injuries.
Michael’s heart nearly stopped with relief.
“Dad.”
Michael rushed forward.
A man stepped from the bathroom.
Warren Pike.
Older now.
Thick gray hair.
Broad shoulders.
Gold eagle ring.
Sophie had remembered perfectly.
Pike held a gun.
“Stop.”
Michael stopped.
Lucas looked terrified.
Pike smiled.
“Children remember more than adults think.”
Michael looked at his son.
“I’m here.”
Pike nodded toward the bag.
“Journal.”
Michael tossed it.
Pike opened it.
His smile vanished.
Blank notebook.
“You think I’m stupid?”
“No.”
Michael kept his voice steady.
“I think you’re scared.”
Pike raised the gun.
“You have no idea what I’ve survived.”
“Rachel did.”
Something flickered in Pike’s face.
Michael saw it.
“You killed her.”
Pike shrugged.
“She made choices.”
Lucas spoke.
“Mom wasn’t scared of you.”
Pike turned toward him.
That was his mistake.
Victoria came through the connecting door behind him.
She slammed a metal fire extinguisher into Pike’s gun hand.
The gun fired into the ceiling.
Michael lunged.
They crashed into the wall.
Pike was stronger than Michael expected.
Older did not mean weak.
He drove an elbow into Michael’s ribs.
Lucas screamed.
Victoria kicked the gun beneath the bed.
Pike grabbed her by the throat.
“You should have stayed obedient.”
Victoria clawed his arm.
Michael tackled him.
All three fell.
Then Briggs entered with two officers.
“POLICE!”
Pike froze.
A gun aimed at his chest.
He released Victoria.
Officers handcuffed him.
Michael crawled to Lucas.
His son threw himself into his arms.
Michael held him so tightly Lucas squeaked.
“I’m sorry.”
Lucas buried his face in his shoulder.
“I knew you’d come.”
Michael closed his eyes.
That faith hurt.
Because he had not earned it.
Not yet.
Pike laughed from the floor.
Everyone looked at him.
“You think this ends with me?”
Briggs stepped closer.
“It ends with you in custody.”
“No.”
Pike smiled at Michael.
“Rachel was smarter than all of you.”
Michael’s skin prickled.
“What does that mean?”
Pike leaned back against the wall.
“She never trusted Victoria.”
Victoria went still.
Pike continued.
“She never trusted Daniel either.”
Michael stared.
“So?”
Pike smiled.
“She made a deal.”
“With who?”
Pike looked at Lucas.
“Ask the boy.”
Michael turned.
Lucas was pale.
“What?”
Lucas whispered, “There was another thing Mom told me.”
Michael’s heart sank.
“What thing?”
Lucas swallowed.
“She said if the bad people ever came for me, I should remember one name.”
Michael crouched.
“What name?”
May you like
Lucas looked toward the dark window.
“Claire.”
