CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“We’ve got a location for Jericho,” said Ace. “And Trak said to tell you that Alvin said the woman tasted funny. I have no idea what that means.”
“Neither do I,” frowned Luke. “And I don’t think I want to know. Where is he?”
“Checked into the Royal last night. Had steak and seafood dinner, a bottle of wine, a very expensive bottle of wine, and bought a suit all on a credit card in his own damn name.”
“Is this guy stupid?” asked Eric.
“That’s a rhetorical question, right?” asked Ace. Eric nodded, laughing at the man.
“Yeah, it definitely is. Is he still at the Royal? Did he contact Remy?”
“Yes, and yes. He told him that he had other plans today and he would contact him later about meeting tomorrow morning.”
“Is he still at the hotel right this minute?” asked Luke.
“He is and Trak and the team are scattered around the lobby waiting for your orders,” said Ace.
“Tell them to sit tight. I want to be there and talk to this man.”
“We want to speak with him as well,” said Kane. “We need to know if other kids have been used. You know we have to know that, Luke.”
“We can’t have a hundred people going in there and it not look ridiculous! I need to get him out of there and brought back here. We need to question him out of sight from the general public.”
“Well, that is what the tracking team is known for. They can get him out of that hotel and make it look like he was never there. I’ll disrupt the cameras, have them take him down in the service elevator and bring him here.”
“No. No, not here. Bring him to the animal sanctuary,” grinned Eric. “I think they might enjoy seeing the man that tortured the children they’ve fallen in love with.”
“I’ll let them know,” smirked Ace.
“Anyone who wants to talk to this man should head out to the animal sanctuary,” said Luke. “You’ll all have a chance to ask your questions and find out what he knows and what he’s been using.”
“I don’t think I want to see this man,” said Fiona. Aislinn held her friend’s hand, squeezing it for reassurance. “I’m glad the woman, my half-sister is gone and I know there will probably be others out there. I just hope they’ve found a normal life and don’t plan on anything so stupid.”
“We can only hope, Fiona,” smiled Cam.
“Alright everyone, out to the sanctuary. I’m sure Trak and the team will handle wrangling our guest,” smirked Eric. “This should be fun.”
“Mister Eric?” called Sutton’s soft voice.
“Yes, honey?”
“D-do we have to go out there?”
“No. No, you do not. You all will stay right here with Jessica and Elizabeth and the ghosts. They’ll make sure you’re well taken care of and no one will bother you.”
“Will you make the doctor go away? Forever?” she asked shyly. Eric kneeled in front of her and gently grabbed her shoulders.
“Sutton, sometimes adults have to do things that children shouldn’t know about. Sometimes they’re dangerous or scary, sometimes it’s just things that are private that only adults should know about.”
“But you all said I acted like an adult. Besides, ain’t it, I mean, isn’t it my life and Pips? And the others? Don’t I get to know about that?” she asked with a face no longer filled with innocence.
“You know what? You’re right. The doctor is not a good man.
Not a good doctor. In fact, he’s the worst kind of doctor ever.
If we let him go to jail, in time they would let him out and he’d do it again.
But, if we make sure he can never do it again, then he will never get near another child.
Ever. Do you understand?” he asked the girl.
“Yes, sir. I understand. Thank you for bein’ honest with me. Not a lot of adults are honest. ‘Cept, I mean, except y’all. You might ask Bella what she wants to do. She had a lot of good ideas on how to hurt him.”
Sutton turned and ran back to the other children and their teachers. Eric stood with a strange expression on his face.
“All good?” asked Luke.
“Yeah. I’m just trying to figure out how she knew what Bella wanted to do.”
“Maybe my dad said something,” he shrugged.
“Your dad wouldn’t have told her something like that. Luke, I think Sutton can speak to the animals like you, Gaspar, and Irene. I think maybe she has a gift and doesn’t even know it.”
Luke stared at the little girl, happily playing with the other children. Beside her were two of the dogs from the property, Monster and Daisy VII. She would rub their heads between their ears, lower her head to them and speak, the dogs instantly doing whatever she whispered to them.
“We’ll figure that out,” said Luke watching the whole thing. “Right now, the others are headed this way. Let’s get out there.”