Allison Brennan - Silenced

Ivy squeezed the box. “Thank you.”

Sara was in the pediatric wing. She, too, had a guard on her door. Lucy was more concerned about Ivy-Brian Abernathy wanted to kill her more than anyone else. But no guard had been assigned to her. No one knew where Abernathy was-half the team thought he’d left DC. Lucy didn’t believe it.

Sean walked down the hall toward them. He was carrying a large bouquet of daisies. Lucy smiled.

Sean shook his head. “These are for Sara. But I got you your own daisies, plus…” He took his hand out from behind his back. “A white mocha.”

Lucy took the coffee drink from Sean happily and kissed him. “Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome.”

They showed ID to the guard and went into Sara’s room. She was sitting cross-legged on the bed and playing games on an iPad.

“Where’d you get that?” Ivy asked.

“The hospital delivered it. Look at the card.”

Lucy read over Ivy’s shoulder. The card was generic. Inside, there was no message, just initials.

S.R.

Lucy looked at Sean. “That’s sweet.”

“What is?”

“The gift.”

Sean shook his head and took the card. He stared for a long time, so long that Lucy was worried. Then he grinned. “Hey, kid, can I see your toy? Can you believe I don’t have one of these?”

Sara handed it to him and he handed her the flowers.

Lucy watched Sean check all the settings and apps. Then he downloaded an app. It took Lucy a minute to realize it was an anti-tracking app; it blocked GPS signals.

“ What? ” she mouthed.

“You can never be too safe.”

“I agree,” Ivy said. “I like your boyfriend, Lucy.”

“Me, too.” Lucy took Sean’s hand. “I’ll keep him around.”

“How’s Chip doing?” Sean asked.

“He’s recovering. We can pick him up in a few hours.”

“Good, I don’t want him spending the night in the hospital. If he’s anything like me, he’ll hate it.”

Lucy rolled her eyes, then laughed. “He’s going to be a spoiled cat.”

“I have to spoil someone while you’re at Quantico.” He kissed her forehead.

Ivy said, “Can I ask a favor?”

“Anything.”

“I’d like to meet Detective Reid.”

“We’d better do it now. I hear she’s going home today.”

“I’ll keep Sara company,” Sean said. “Any racing games on that thing?”

Sara giggled. Lucy and Ivy walked out. Lucy said, “She’s amazing.”

“I know.”

“And you get the credit.”

Ivy didn’t say anything.

“You okay?”

“I’m getting there.” She paused. “Is it wrong to not feel anything about him being dead?”

Lucy didn’t have to ask who she was talking about.

“No.”

She whispered, “Is it wrong to be glad?”

Lucy sighed. She shook her head. “You’re going to feel a lot of different emotions over the next few weeks. None of them are wrong. Just don’t linger in any one place, if you know what I mean.”

“I do. Thank you.”

Genie was in another building. They crossed the courtyard when Lucy saw a familiar figure walking briskly to catch up with them.

“Senator,” Lucy said, stunned.

“It took me forever to track you down, but Noah thought you might be here.” He smiled at Ivy. “Senator Jonathon Paxton.”

Ivy shook his hand. “Pleased to meet you.” She was skeptical, and looked to Lucy for direction.

“I interned for Senator Paxton years ago. He gave me a recommendation to get into the Bureau.”

“I just came from meeting with AD Rick Stockton and he filled me in on the case. I also talked to Cathy Hummel at MARC. I wanted you to know, Ivy, that Cathy and I are establishing a foundation in the name of Chris and Jocelyn Taylor. And the first thing we’re doing is rebuilding the house on Hawthorne Street. I’ve already talked to the owner, we’re going to arrange a financially beneficial agreement for her, and I’ll rebuild. It’ll be a place for young women in transition. Cathy said the hardest age group to work with are eighteen to twenty-five-most programs are for minors.”

“Why?” Ivy said. “Why do you want to help?” She sounded not only skeptical, but threatened. As if he were going to start making demands.

“Because I can. I’ve given a lot of money to MARC and similar groups over the years, and I think this cause is worthwhile.”

He looked at Lucy, expecting her to vouch for him.

And on this, she could. Because even though she had some deep-seated problems with the senator, he did want to help others. He needed to help others. Maybe as penance for crimes he’d never admitted to.

She said, “I think it’s a good thing. Is MARC running the house?”

“Yes, they’re already set up, why create additional bureaucracy?”

“Thank you, Jonathon,” Lucy said.

He smiled and took her hand. “It’s always good to see you, Lucy. Please, don’t be a stranger.”

He turned to Ivy, shook her hand, then walked off.

“I have a hard time trusting people who give without wanting something in return,” Ivy said.

“He’s not doing this for you,” Lucy muttered.

“What?”

She shook her head. “The senator is running from his own demons, I think. Philanthropy makes him feel better about himself.”

Ivy said, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money!.. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”

“Appropriate,” Lucy said.

“I don’t even believe anymore.”

“It’s okay,” Lucy said. “I have a hard time when bad things happen to kids like Sara. But then I remember that the doctors never thought Patrick would wake from his coma.”

They went up to Genie’s room, which was filled with her family, including her grandson Isaiah. Genie seemed pleased to see Lucy, and relieved that the case was resolved.

“They’re making me take two weeks off,” Genie grumbled.

“I’ll come visit.”

“You’d better.”

Lucy stepped aside so Ivy could talk to Genie. At first, Ivy didn’t say anything. She looked around at the roomful of people, then stared at her feet, nervous.

Genie reached out and grabbed her hand. “Glad to finally meet you,” she said to Ivy.

“I’m sorry,” Ivy mumbled.

“About what? Protecting your family? You got nothing to apologize for, girl. I think that ”-she gestured to the security bracelet around her ankle-“is punishment enough.”

“Thank you for everything you did for my friends. Lucy said you’re a great cop, and you cared about them, even when they were dead.”

“Stop,” Genie said, her eyes tearing. “Someone has to speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves. I’m no saint.”

“You are to me,” Lucy said.

Sean was playing games with Sara on her iPad, while putting together the truth behind Senator Paxton’s lies.

From the beginning he’d been the one playing with Sara’s life. All the tidbits Sean had picked up from Lucy’s investigation and from the senator himself found their proper places.

Sergio had kidnapped Sara and brought her to Ivy. He’d been the one who’d bought the virtual phone number so Ivy could reach him. Yet he’d allowed Paxton to play the game with Crowley, to release the photographs to the media that started this entire chain of events spiraling out of control.

That Sara was away from the bastard who’d raised her, and Ivy would probably get off with probation, were a small silver lining in a sea of blood-the blood of six people who’d been killed to cover up the crimes of Devon Sullivan and her cohorts.

Paxton was a danger not only to Sean but to others. He played the role of master chessman, sacrificing pawns and others in his quest to win whatever endgame he had in mind.