Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
“Gabriel, come and get Sadie. You have to be here within exactly fifteen minutes. No police. Hurry.”
Those were Megan’s exact instructions. Before I dialed, she said she would explain everything to him when he gets here and will make sure he transfers the money before leaving the camp.
I hear Gabriel start to say something, but the phone is yanked from my grip by Megan’s guard, the bald man, who appeared from nowhere and is now wearing a uniform and cap.
Fifteen minutes is more than enough time to drive straight from our apartment, but not enough time to do anything but react.
Megan takes a step forward while the guard shields her just outside the door. Her gaze moves between Sadie and me. I can feel my daughter shrink back next to me.
“It’s a real shame, Sadie.” Her eyes glint with something between rage and regret.
“It could have been so beautiful. We would have been a real family, the four of us. You and Alice, and your mom and me.” She claps her hands in front of her and glances my way.
“But you’ve made the right decision now, Judy.
We can forget the past and start over. Together, we will do great things… continue what Mrs. Potter started.”
“Yes.” The word is heavy on my tongue, but I’m determined to play the part until I have the chance to get out of here and be with my daughter.
Megan takes a few more steps into the room and comes to stand in front of Sadie, putting out her arms. Sadie flinches away from her, curling up into a ball, continuing to rock back and forth.
Megan crouches to her level. “It’s okay, Sadie.” As she bends forward, I catch a glimpse of something in her breast pocket, not the usual pens she keeps there, but a slender syringe filled with some liquid.
I immediately imagine my friend lying somewhere on this property, dead because she was trying to save my daughter. Is that how she died?
Scarlett may have betrayed me by sleeping with my husband, but that all seems trivial now. She gave her life for Sadie.
“Sadie,” Megan starts as I shoot out an arm in an attempt to keep her away from my daughter.
“Don’t… Don’t touch her.”
“Be careful.” Megan shoots me a warning look.
“I wouldn’t do anything stupid if I were you.
I just want us to say goodbye.” Pushing my weak arm aside, she turns back to Sadie.
“Sweet girl, it was lovely having you with us. We had so much fun, didn’t we?
We played games when Alice visited and had such a lovely time together. ”
Sadie doesn’t respond to Megan, just sits there, curled up, staring ahead.
“I would have wanted more for you. You deserve better than what’s out there, a world that pollutes kids’ minds. Here, I could have kept you safe.”
My hand itches to slap her hard in the face, to wipe that self-satisfied smile off her lips, but I keep my hands by my sides, thinking of Sadie and what Megan might do if I step out of line.
My gaze moves to the guard outside just as a disturbing thought sneaks into my mind.
What if this is all a trap? What if she’s luring Gabriel here to kill him, or kill all of us for that matter? To shut us up forever?
“How can I be sure that you are not going to kill Gabriel like you killed Scarlett?” I ask before I can think. “Aren’t you afraid he will go to—?”
“I have no plans to kill your husband.” Megan straightens to her full height. “He’s proven himself to be trustworthy, keeping our little secret to protect Sadie.” Her mouth tightens a little. “Though he did test me, hiring that PI to nose around. But I handled it.”
Handled it? I want to ask what she means, but it’s best to keep my mouth shut.
“Gabriel knows what will happen if he tries something again.” Megan narrows her eyes at me. “I’m sure he loves you enough to keep this new arrangement as well.”
The irony doesn’t escape me. I can’t believe the thing I will never forgive him for is what might keep Sadie and me alive. Gaining Megan’s trust.
Megan checks her watch. “Seven minutes left. Can I give you a hug, Sadie, to say goodbye?”
Sadie hesitates, then gives a small nod. Rising to her feet, she inches toward Megan with her shoulders hunched and her hands clasped tightly beneath her chin.
That does not seem to bother Megan who proceeds to put her arms around my daughter. One hand slides to the back of Sadie’s head, stroking her matted hair. If someone didn’t know better, they would think this was a tender and loving gesture.
It takes everything in me not to yank her away from that monster.
“You will be missed,” Megan whispers as Sadie writhes a little in her arms but does not pull away.
Then my phone rings in the guard’s hands and Megan breaks the embrace. Sadie stumbles back like she was standing a little too close to a bonfire and is only now realizing it.
The guard hands Megan the phone and she presses it to her ear, listens and nods. “All right, Gabriel. That’s good. You will be escorted in. I will meet you in the reception lounge.”
If Gabriel has already arrived, he must have been close to the camp, perhaps on his way to try and sneak inside.
“He’s here,” Megan confirms when she hangs up. “I knew he would come. Sadie, are you ready to leave with your father?”
“I…” Sadie looks at me. “Can I have a few minutes with Mom, to say goodbye?”
Megan thinks for a moment, then shrugs. “That’s fine. In the meantime, I’ll go and meet your father, explain everything to him. I’ll come back for you in a bit.”
As soon as she’s gone and the door is shut, Sadie falls into my arms, sobbing. “Please be careful. Do what she says.”
“I will find a way to get out,” I promise her, my tears soaking her hair. “I’ll come home.”
“I know,” Sadie whispers and pulls away. But she reaches for my hand and presses something into my palm. “Hide it. Don’t let her see it.”