CHAPTER 57 — FORTY-EIGHT HOURS
The transport boat surfaced beneath an abandoned warehouse.
Ward contacted federal command, but every response used phrases connected to Gray Tide.
No one knew which agency remained trustworthy.
Rebecca examined Olivia.
“The baby’s organs are developing at an impossible rate.”
“Can you stop it?”
“Not without disconnecting the neural-support system.”
Olivia looked at Daniel.
“And that could kill the baby.”
Daniel nodded.
Olivia turned away from him.
Claire remembered the gun he had held against Olivia’s head in the hospital.
Even if it had been an act, the fear remained.
Mason found an old ambulance inside the warehouse.
“We can reach Saint Orison in six hours.”
Sarah checked the registry map.
“Not by road. Miriam will expect that.”
C-Two pointed to a railway symbol.
“The children were moved by train.”
Daniel remembered the train from the safehouse.
“There is another underground line.”
Ward remained behind to coordinate the rescue of the Blackwater children.
Before Claire left, Ward handed her a secure phone.
“Only call this number.”
“Who answers?”
“My brother.”
“Can he be trusted?”
Ward hesitated.
“He died nine years ago.”
Claire stared at her.
Ward explained.
“He sent me a message yesterday.”
The group entered the abandoned railway tunnel.
Rose walked separately.
The children’s reaction at Blackwater had frightened her more than she admitted.
Lily approached her.
“I know you’re Rose.”
“How?”
“Because Claire is my mommy.”
Rose gave a sad smile.
“Simple as that?”
“Yes.”
Rose took Lily’s hand.
The tunnel lights turned on one by one.
A station appeared ahead.
Its walls were covered with recent photographs of Claire’s family.
Claire sleeping.
Lily at school.
Margaret standing beside Thomas’s grave.
Mason meeting Cole.
Olivia entering the hospital.
One photograph showed Rose watching Claire through a café window three years earlier.
Claire turned toward her.
“You knew me before this?”
Rose stared at the picture.
“I don’t remember that day.”
A second photograph showed Rose meeting Miriam.
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On the back was written:
SUBJECT SEVEN REACTIVATED.
