Page 84 of Hostile Saint

Sliding the door shut behind me, I heard Lynx’s lighter strike fire. After a hefty pull of smoke, he said, “VP, talk to me. How do I shut down that doc from chattin’ with the Po-Po?”

I joined the men at the end of the porch and rested my elbows on the railings.

Dagger leaned his head back and let smoke float upward. “I guess killing him would be rude after all he’s done to try and help.”

Lynx chuckled, bringing his cigarette back to his mouth. “Yeah, a plan B may be in order.”

I shrugged. “Maybe he is a bullshit detector, too.”

After the cigarette break, Lynx finally put the earphones on. He listened to the live feed for a while. I witnessed his resolve. Once he removed the earphones, he stood, then pulled something from his pocket before handing it to me.

I unfolded the piece of paper. It was a copy of my marriage certificate. I stood there, staring at it, wondering if my uncle and Lacey’s mom knew each other. Was this certificate a death sentence?

“Kid, you have to stop him from going to the police station to speak with the detective on Jane Doe’s case.”

Jane Doe… People kept trying to rename my girl. “And if he won’t listen to me?”

“Then we take her tonight.”

Having her with me would’ve been a fulfilled dream for me, but it was also one she simply wasn’t ready to have come true. Especially with what we had learned that day. That’s why, with that paper in hand, I now stared nervously at the Serenity Institute’s door. We needed this plan to work.

Lynx and I were in the woods near Serenity’s small parking lot. The sun was shining down on Doc’s fancy white Saab, and we knew he would soon be coming out. Vice was still in the back section of the woods, watching over Lacey’s window. After her session, Doc had sent her back to her room to rest.

“She doesn’t remember any of it?” I asked, thinking of us locked in a cage together.

Lynx watched the closed door intently. “No. Those memories are still hidden.”

Even though it was bright out, I wanted to climb that wall outside her window and hold her, but that would have to wait. Protecting her, in more ways than one, took priority over my selfish need to touch her.

As soon as the Serenity door opened, and I was sure who was coming out, I looked to Lynx. He smiled. “Go work your charm, kid.”

I started jogging across the plush green grass. “My charm?”

Lynx waved me on. “Trust me. He’ll see what we see.”

I was clueless to Lynx’s meaning but carried on because there was immense pressure on my shoulders. Dagger was, well, elsewhere. Waiting. If I failed to convince Doc to abandon talking to the police, Dagger was going to do his best to not reactivate Plan A, but wasn’t going to let Doc succeed.

Gulp.

As soon as I got closer to the parking lot, Doctor Landon finally noticed me. He watched me while he unlocked his car with his remote

Not stopping, I lifted my hand. “I’m friendly. Swear it. Just need to talk to you for a minute about Lacey.”

After what he had learned about Lacey, it didn’t shock me to see his eyes bug from his head and for him to take a cautious step back.

“Wait. Please.” I stopped jogging, trying to prove I was no threat. “It’s crucial you hear me out.”

The man, in a finely ironed suit, had greying hair and a glare that was studying me head to toe. I was in jeans, a t-shirt, a ball cap on my head, and Vice’s aviators to hamper my identity.

Doc opened his car door and stood next to the dark leather seat, keeping the door between us. “How do you know her?”

I held up the piece of paper. “It’s all right here.”

After a pause, his curiosity got the best of him and he waved me forward.

Keeping my distance to not spook him, I stepped onto the asphalt, holding out the paper. He reached over his door and took my offering. As soon as his eyes scanned the certificate, they raced back to me. His mouth parted. “Tate? The little boy—how do you know him?”

I touched my chest. “I am him, sir.”