The next twenty-four hours uncovered a story uglier than any of them expected.
Rachel Knox had never abandoned Maya.
At least not in the way Everett believed.
Records showed that after leaving Everett, Rachel changed her name repeatedly and worked in clinics across three states.
She had been arrested once for falsifying medical records.
Charges were dismissed.
Daniel Mercer had paid her bail.
Franklin Whitman had signed paperwork in the case as an investigator.
Everett paced the farmhouse.
“They all knew each other.”
Claire sat beside Junie, who colored quietly at the kitchen table.
Everett pointed at the documents.
“Rachel. Daniel. Your father.”
Claire whispered, “And Junie.”
Everett stopped.
Claire had not yet told him the truth.
She couldn’t hold it any longer.
“My father told me something.”
Everett waited.
Claire’s mouth went dry.
“Junie isn’t biologically mine.”
Everett looked confused.
Claire forced herself to continue.
“My baby d.i.e.d during delivery.”
Junie kept coloring.
Claire lowered her voice.
“My parents arranged for another infant to be placed with me.”
Everett stared at her.
“Without telling you?”
“Where did the infant come from?”
“My father claims he didn’t know.”
Everett’s expression said what Claire couldn’t.
He knew.
Or at least knew more.
Junie lifted a picture.
“I drew Bear.”
Everett forced a smile.
“That’s me?”
“You need bigger arms.”
Dolores laughed unexpectedly.
For one brief second, the room felt almost normal.
Then headlights appeared outside.
Everett went rigid.
Three motorcycles rolled into the driveway.
His friends entered moments later.
Cole Maddox.
Marcus Reed.
Theo Grant.
Men Claire would once have crossed a street to avoid.
Now she had never been happier to see anyone.
Cole placed a laptop on the table.
“We found Daniel.”
Everett leaned closer.
“Where?”
“Not Tennessee.”
Cole turned the screen.
“Louisville.”
Claire whispered, “He’s here?”
“He owns a storage property under another company name.”
Marcus added, “And someone accessed one of the units last night.”
Everett’s eyes hardened.
“Address.”
“I’m coming.”
“That’s my daughter.”
“We don’t know what’s there.”
“Then you definitely aren’t leaving me behind.”
Then nodded.
Dolores stayed with Junie.
Before they left, Junie grabbed Everett’s hand.
“Bear.”
He crouched.
“Don’t go in the white room alone.”
Everett’s expression changed.
Junie hugged him.
“I told you.”
The storage facility looked abandoned.
Rusting fences.
Broken security lights.
Rows of metal doors.
Cole had obtained an access code through one of Daniel’s former employees.
The unit was number 214.
Everett opened it.
Inside were filing cabinets.
Boxes.
Old computers.
No white room.
Then Marcus noticed a false wall.
Behind it was a narrow hallway.
At the end stood a white-painted door.
Claire whispered, “Junie knew.”
He opened it.
The room beyond was small.
White walls.
White tile.
A hospital bed.
Cabinets.
A camera mount.
Claire nearly vomited.
Cole opened a drawer.
Children’s hospital bracelets.
Dozens.
Different names.
Different dates.
Marcus swore softly.
Everett found one labeled MAYA KNOX.
His hand began shaking.
Then they heard a sound.
Footsteps.
Daniel Mercer stood in the doorway.
He was older than the photograph.
Gray hair.
Expensive coat.
He held no weapon.
He smiled.
Everett crossed the room before anyone could stop him.
He grabbed Daniel by the coat and slammed him against the wall.
Daniel looked into Everett’s face.
“Maya?”
“WHERE IS MY DAUGHTER?”
Daniel smiled sadly.
“You still don’t understand.”
Claire stepped forward.
“Where is Junie from?”
Daniel looked at her.
His smile disappeared.
“Claire.”
She froze.
“You know me?”
“I watched you grow up.”