The Broken Lake (29 page)

“Dr. Lyon, I just want Wes to return.”

“No more than I.”

I was pretty sure that huge assumption was false, but before I could come up with a reply, he continued speaking.

“Listen, I don’t know what Weston has told you, but I’m here to protect him. That’s my main priority, and I trust my people to help me do that.”

“Your people?”

“Yes, Ms. Slone, just as there are people willing to take Weston for the wrong reasons, there are people willing to protect him for the right ones.”

“Wes never told me anything about people protecting him.”

“That’s because Weston doesn’t know. The things Dr. Thomas asked me to do for Weston were asked in confidence.”

We were walking a fine line, unsure how much each of us knew. One thing for sure, I wasn’t willing to give away that I knew anything about Wes, other than what was in relation to his current life.

Sounding completely clueless, yet intrigued, I asked, “What was it that Dr. Thomas told you?”

Either not willing to give away too much, or calling my bluff, he carefully danced around the question, still managing to keep my full attention. “Dr. Thomas told me enough about his research to know that I need to bring Weston back before the people who have him figure out exactly who it is they hold.”

From then on, I felt pretty sure that Dr. Lyon was aware of Wes’ transformation. Except, Wes would’ve told me if there was someone else who knew about him, which meant that Wes didn’t know that Dr. Lyon knew.

But that didn’t mean what Dr. Lyon was saying couldn’t be true. I kept my gaze on him, and he, too, never released me from his stare. I still wasn’t willing to give away my own privies surrounding Wes’s life, so I gave him nothing. We seemed to be in an information stare-off.

It did make sense that Dr. Thomas would’ve trusted someone to care for Wes after he died. He couldn’t expect Wes to do it alone, but I wasn’t sure. I needed more.

“So you knew Wes’ father then?”

The leading question actually prompted a small laugh from him and to cover it up, he took another sip.

“We can talk about unimportant things or we can talk about bringing Weston back.”

It seemed clear that he wasn’t going to give me any more information, so I thought I’d try one final test.

“Wes told me I could call the police if I didn’t hear from him in forty-eight hours. I was going to call them this afternoon.”

If he had evil intentions, I figured he’d either get up and disappear or come up with a million reasons why I shouldn’t call. After a minute of thinking and appearing unfazed by the near threat, he answered.

“If Weston told you to do that, then you should. But it will be for your own safety, Ms. Slone. Not his. The police will not be able find him, but bringing attention to the matter may keep you safer.”

“Me?”

“Yes. If they are not satisfied with what Weston has to offer them, they’ll use other methods of persuasion.”

I leaned forward, unconcerned with my own well-being. “Tell me what you think would keep Wes the safest?”

“Us bringing him home swiftly.”

I no longer cared about whether or not I trusted Dr. Lyon. I decided that he was my best chance at finding Wes.

I scooted closer to the edge of my seat, locking my worried gaze on him. “How can you bring him back?”

As if we formed some sort of pact, he leaned in closer, his expression less worried and more intent. “I need you to tell me what you saw when he was picked up.”

“Well, they came in a helicopter,” I said flatly. “My friend said it was military.”

He sighed and pressed his lips together. “As I suspected.”

“So the government has Wes? Are you serious?”

“Not the common government, no. The people who have him are sliding in under the government’s radar, but are assuredly using its resources to fund their operation. We’ve been following their activities for years. They want to find a serum to make their performance drug work better. Once they find it, they’ll give it to the U.S. military—and then sell it for millions to other countries. If you think war is inhumane now, just wait.”

I leaned back in my seat. “This is horrible.”

“No, this is good. Because that means they’re looking for information. Not Wes. He’s just an avenue, which means we have time to get him before it’s too late.”

My optimism returned once again, as I found myself needing Dr. Lyon to be our solution.

“I know who might be able to lead you to him.”

Dr. Lyon’s eyes widened with surprise and pleasure.

“His name is Tim. I think he’s working with whoever took Wes. My…friend,” I winced at using the word, but kept talking, “was working with them too, but for some reason, they just tried to kill him. I think he knows something.” I was talking fast, and I could tell the doctor was listening attentively to keep up.

“Do you know where we can find this Tim?”

“No, but I can find out.” I’d already made Tim’s connection to Andy, but I knew nothing else. I reached into my purse and grabbed my cell, hoping Danny was at work.

He picked up on the third ring. “Healey’s Used Books.”

“Danny, this is Sophie.”

“Hey, Soph.”

“Hey, I have a question. Who is that guy Tim you were talking about?”

“Tim is one of Chase’s friends.”

Not anymore,
I thought. “Yeah, I know that. But who is he? Where does he live?”

“Don’t know.”

“Well, where do you guys hang out?”

“Only at the fight club.”

“He goes to the fight club?” I hated the visual that returned in my head, along with the panic I had felt when I was actually there.

“He doesn’t just go there. He runs it. He’s the leader. Why?”

“Oh, my gosh.” My chest tightened. “Thank you.” I hung up without answering, waiting for my brain to catch up with my senses.

I couldn’t believe it. I had been two feet from the guy. I had seen his sick pleasure at watching someone else get beat to a pulp. Watched how the crowd marveled in his presence, his arrogance.

Had he planned the whole thing? To use Chase and Danny to get close to us? My stomach twisted.

“Ms. Slone?”

Hearing my name snapped me out of my thoughts. I looked at Dr. Lyon, more than willing to provide what I knew.

“I know where you can find him.”

I wrote down everything. About the location of the club, how I believed him to be Andy’s grandson. I also told him what Andy said about the government experiments and their soldiers. He took in everything, never allowing an ounce of surprise to cross his face. When I was finished, he nodded and passed me his card.

“This is most helpful. I have no doubts that we will have Weston back before the week is up. These people gain nothing from harming him, as long as they just want information. They can’t hold him longer than a few days, otherwise people will start asking questions. We just need to make contact as soon as we can. Before they dig too deep.”

I nodded.

He stood and was about the leave when I asked one more question, not that it seemed relevant. I just wanted to know, and maybe something in me wanted to hang on to another reason to trust him.

“Didn’t Dr. Thomas help you with your hemophilia?” He looked taken aback by my knowledge of that, so I added, “I asked Wes about you after the press conference.”

“Ah.” He smiled slightly. “Yes.” We were both standing now, and he gently patted my shoulder. “He did, and that’s why I’m here today. He gave me a good quality of life. So, you see, Ms. Slone, I owe him my life. And I will get
his
Weston back.”

Leaving me speechless, with a thousand thoughts and emotions flowing through me, he walked away, with the line finally being crossed.

I stood there, aware for the first time that I wasn’t alone in wanting Wes home. Even though, somewhere, I believed Wes knew what he was doing, it certainly helped that someone else was in our corner. It also helped to know there was a plan to get him back.

A familiar feeling that I had let slip away was returning, and I held on to it—hope—clinging to it with every ounce of my soul. And I took it with me as I walked out of the hospital, heavily contemplating whether or not it was enough.

Then I decided it was, simply because it had to be.

I’ll begin with a huge thank you, again, to my husband and children. You show me what unconditional love really is! My passion for reading and writing is all-consuming, and you certainly didn’t ask for the roller coaster of emotions that go along with it, so I appreciate you guys more than anything!

Next, many thanks to people who gave me insight. Freddie for a peek into Midway! My test readers, Troy and Danny. Also, a huge thank you to Sharon K. Garner and Kimberly Martin, who craft my work with their mad skills. Sharon, I am so thankful for the care you put into this book. You always know what I’m really trying to say, and your edits have taught me to be a better writer. Kimberly, without the pretty bow you put on everything, none of what I do would matter, so thank you!

I must also give a HUMONGOUS thank you to some people who really wowed me with their enthusiasm for
The Pace Series
. To the fans who amaze me and also put a match under my rear to keep bringing you stories! To Michelle, from Windowpane-memoirs.com, thank you for being the first reviewer to not only take a leap and purchase
The Pace
, but also for posting its very first review online. I’ll always remember how that made me feel! To Ka-Yam, who is the first international fan and who blew me away with your well wishes from Germany. Thank you for giving me that first moment when I realized Sophie and Weston would be traveling overseas. To Reggie from Theundercoverbooklover.blogspot.com. What can I say?
The Pace
as the Best Book of 2009… It made me speechless. And to Valerie at valeriekwrites.blogspot.com, for thinking enough of
The Pace
to nominate it for the 2009 Cybil’s Award. I can now relate when someone says, “It truly is an honor just to be nominated!”

And to the many, many more reviewers/bloggers who first featured
The Pace
. There are too many to name here, but I want you to know that I appreciate what you do immensely. You guys motivate me, inspire me, and also teach me about my own writing, so thank you for your comments and support!

Not to be forgotten is my mother, who wears many hats, one of which is fantastic content editor. You make me write better stories, so thank you for that! To Curtis Paul for your support. And to the talented Jennifer Murgia who took the newbie author ride with me. Thanks for being a great friend and awesome motivator too!

And finally, only because I want to end on it. Thank you to God for making every single thing in my life possible and for guiding me whenever I need it, which is always!

Visit
www.thepaceseries.com
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THE IRON QUILL
(The Pace Series Book 3)