Chapter 11 - Avery Vanishes
Avery's driver had been found unconscious.
The school gate camera showed Avery entering a black SUV willingly.
She knew the driver.
Nolan recognized him from Lily's drawings.
A man with a red tie.
Howard Kell.
Howard had escaped hospital observation.
He took Avery.
Grant became something Nolan had never seen.
Not billionaire.
Not chairman.
Father.
Terrified father.
Howard called.
He wanted the charity ledger.
The original.
Grant said he did not have it.
Howard laughed.
"Avery does."
Catherine had hidden the physical ledger inside something Avery kept.
A music box.
The same music box now stored in Catherine's old bedroom.
Howard wanted an exchange.
Ledger for child.
Police prepared a controlled operation.
Grant insisted on going.
Nolan did too.
"Why?"
Grant demanded.
Nolan looked at Lily.
"Because Avery trusted me before she trusted you."
It hurt.
Grant accepted it.
The exchange site was an abandoned children's hospital funded by Catherine's foundation.
Howard stood beneath a broken skylight.
Avery sat on a chair.
No restraints.
But terrified.
When she saw Nolan, she whispered.
"Bad minute."
Nolan sat on the floor.
Again.
Right there.
Across twenty feet of cracked tile.
"Yeah."
"Really bad."
Howard shouted.
"Stop talking to her."
Avery looked at Howard.
Then back at Nolan.
"My mom said grown-ups who yell are scared."
Howard's face changed.
Avery stood.
May you like
And ran.
