Beneath, beneath! Vickie cried. Theres a door to a deeper pit...they used to store way more wood down here before, decades ago, long before modern heating systems came in.
And there was a door. Griffin saw a little metal ring in the middle of it. He jerked so hard on it that he almost ripped the thin wood portal out of its sockets.
And there she lay. Chrissy Ballantine, covered in the minutiae of dust and chips and dirt that had fallen upon the place where shed been entombed...
Get her out, Jackson said.
Mom, Mom! the ghost of Dylan sobbed.
Griffin dropped low on his knees and lifted Chrissy Ballantine from the little pit in her own home. He was prepared to resuscitate; Jackson was shouting to the cops upstairs to get a paramedic down to him.
Vickie stood by, silent, watching, as if she were frozen.
Chrissy Ballantine took a deep breath and coughed and sputtered on her own.
Resuscitation wasnt necessary.
Chrissy Ballantine was alive and breathing on her own.
And her eyes opened. She looked up and smiled.
Vickie... Dylan. Her eyes closed. She was alive.
And the paramedics were hurrying down to tend to her.
Griffin closed his own eyes for a minute, silently thankful that theyd found a second woman aliveon the same day.
Then he realized that Dylans mother had said his name.
He looked up where Vickie was standing. She stood alone, staring at him with enormous green eyes. He tried to smile and rose and moved away from the paramedics and Chrissy Ballantine. They could hear George Ballantine above, fighting with the cops to get to his wife. They could hear a policeman urging him to let the paramedics work.
Shell be okay, Mr. Ballantine. Shell be okay. You can come along. Theyre going to get her to the hospital now, one of the officers assured him.
Weve got to go to the hospital, too, Jackson told him.
Yeah, he said. But first, we have to get Miss Preston home.
Vickie shook her head. I should go back to my parents house, Agent Pryce. They need to knowI mean, I can call them, but theyre parents and need to see me, to know that Im just fine and that Chrissy Ballantine has been found. Alive.
Of course, Jackson told her. But well get an officer to escort you.
And, Griffin added, please assure them that well have officers outside their building.
Do you think Chrissy Ballantine will know what happened?
Two victims were found alive today, Miss Preston, Jackson said. We can certainly hope that one of them is able to give us something. Mrs. Ballantine owes her life to you, and we got lucky with the other victim. Were working to find real answers soon.
The med techs were getting Chrissy onto a stretcher. Boston med techs were among the finest in the country, Griffin was certain. Chrissy Ballantine already had an IV in her arm and an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth. Her color was already better; she was going to make it just fine, he believed.
When they had cleared the room, Vickie headed toward the stairs.
Detective David Barnes was on his way down.
He almost ran straight into Vickie.
Miss Preston? he asked.
Yes.
Im Detective Barnes. You found heryou found her already?
Griffin wasnt sure if the note in Barness voice was amazementor skepticism.
Logical, Detective, Jackson said, stepping forward. And thank God for Miss Preston. She went the historical and reasonable route. No one saw anything. Hard to slip the woman out in a neighborhood like this without someone seeing something. And as for the cluewhere old Paul rode. This house was here. Victoria Preston was pretty amazing.
Of courseand still, wow. Amazingthats the word, Barnes said. Thank you for your help, Miss Preston. Naturally, theres paperwork.
There always is, Vickie said.
Miss Preston would like to get to her parents home and let them know that shes fine and that Mrs. Ballantine is alive as well, Griffin said.
Yes, of course. But... Barnes said.
Ill go with Miss Preston and take her statement, Jackson said. You and Griffin can head to the hospital and speak with Mrs. Ballantine as soon as its possible without endangering her health.
All right, Barnes said. Griffin was sure the man was still looking at the three of them suspiciously, as if they shared something that he wasnt in on.
And they did.
Lets go then, he said to Barnes. He paused and turned to Vickie.
She looked tired, covered in sawdust and damp from exertion. Her dark hair was disarrayed and her eyes seemed incredibly large and green in the garish light of the unfinished area of the basement.
Thank you, he told her.
Of course, she said. Of course.
That should have been it. He should have moved instantly.
He didnt. He stood there a few seconds longer. There was more to say.
He didnt know how to say it.
When he finally turned to head out, he knew that hed see her again.
He had to. He had to because...
He simply had to.
* * *
Bick-bick! Vickie, Victoria!
Vickie was almost out the door, escorted by a nice big cop on one side and the rock of a man who was Jackson Crow on the other, when she heard Noah Ballantine calling to her.
She turned, and it felt as if her heart melted in her chest. Though the families had stayed friends since the night of the traumatic eventstheyd seen each other now and then at church or other social eventsit had now been years since she had seen Noah.
She would have recognized Noah Ballantine, now a nine-year-old, anywhere. He hadnt changed much. His dad was a truly dignified-looking man, and somehow, Noah was just as dignified. His mother was beautiful, and Noah was still a beautiful kid.
He remembered her. And that was truly amazing. Hed been so young the last time theyd seen one another.
He was tall for his age, lean, with a thatch of sandy hair and hazel eyes. He stared at Vickie gravely, and yet with a look of hope that was humbling. He wasnt a particularly big kid, but something about his face and eyes seemed way older than his years.
His father, Vickie knew, had just headed for the hospital. Griffin and Detective Barnes would be following. She hoped that everyone hadnt just forgotten Noah in their anxiety for his mother and determination to talk to her.
Noah! she said, and she walked back to him as he raced into her arms.
She hugged him tightly for a minute. When he pulled away at last, he looked at her and said, I knew you would come. I knew you would save my mother. The way you saved me.
Vickie flushed, humbled. Noah, it wasnt just me, lots of people were involved.
He smiled at her. But I knew you would come. There was suddenly an oddly mischievous look about him. And, of course, I know there are others involved. But Bick-bick...wow, gotta quit calling you Bick-bick. He laughed. I mean Im older now. And so are you.
Thanks.
Not that old! Noah said quickly.
Thanks again. And, well, Im not so sure youre so grown-up they need to throw you out on the streets with the work force, she told him. And you may call me anything you like. Noah, its so good to see you.
My mom...shes going to be all right, isnt she?
I believe so, Noah. And, hopefully, shell be able to tell the officers what happened, and all this will be over, Vickie said.
Griffin Pryce and Detective Barnes came up behind Noah, waiting patiently before heading out to follow the ambulance to the hospital.
Noah swung around and headed to Griffin to shake his hand.
Thank you. Thank you. Twice now. Youre really good, I figure. You knew to bring Victoria in. Somehow, sir, I think all this must be that awful man from before, he said.
Vickie liked the way Griffin smiled down at Noah. He apparently had a nice soft spot for kids.
Were just super grateful, Noah, that your mom is going to be okay. And the man beforewe made certainhe is in prison. So. What are we going to do about you right now? I think your dad was pretty eager to go be with your mom. Do you have any other family here?
No, sir. My parents were kind of old when they had me. Late-life kid, Ive heard people say. My grandparents are dead. I think I have cousins in Baltimore. But Ill be okay. This house has an alarm systemand I watch cop shows, even though Im really not supposed to, Noah said. I know as soon as he can, my dad will come back and get me so I can see my mom.
You know what, Noah? If you want, Detective Barnes and I are on our way to the hospitalwell take you with us, Griffin told him.
Really? That would be great.
Barnes looked at Griffin and frowned.
Well have someone from social services sit with you until you can see her, Griffin said.
I can do better than thatjust let me see my parents and Ill head to the hospital and sit with Noah, Vickie offered. She could have called them, of course. Under the circumstances, it seemed best to actually see them and speak with them in person.
Miss Preston, youve been invaluable, Detective Barnes said. Im sure that
Noah and I are old friends, Vickie said. It will be my pleasure.
It is set then, Jackson Crow said firmly. Ill see to it that Miss Preston visits her parents, and then gets to the hospital. Vickie, if you will? he asked, indicating the door.
Vickie smiled at the others and spun around to head out the door. The big cop was patiently waiting for them. A crowd had gathered; traffic was snarled.
News, it seemed, traveled fast. Maybe people just gathered any time an ambulance and cop cars appeared. Duck your headwell keep your involvement out of the press, Jackson Crow told her.
She ducked her head.
The cop drove; Vickie was next to him, aware of Jackson Crow behind her.
The cop stayed with the car, Jackson politely thanking him.
Up in her parents apartment, Vickie was nearly crushed to death by her mom and dad. She told them happily that Mrs. Ballantine was going to be fine, they were fairly certain. She would spend at least one night in the hospital.
We should really visit when we can, Phil, her mother told her father. It is sadwe were close with George and Chrissy for so long. And then the thing happened with that maniac Bertram Aldridge. We just... I guess we just drifted apart lately. Anytime we saw one another... I guess all we could think about was that our children might have...died.
Of course well visit! Phil said. He still had an arm around Vickies shoulders. He stared at Jackson as if daring the man to take her away from him.
Actually, Dad, Im going to the hospital now. Im going to stay with Noah Ballantine, Vickie told them.
No, her mother said. No, no, Vickie.
Mom, it will be okay, she said firmly. Noah is nine and he doesnt have any family here and he might wind up hanging with child services.
Which isnt terrible! her dad said.
Which isnt happening, she said firmly. I came right here so we could tell you what happened and so you could see I was okay. Hey, you know how to work the Skype on your phones. Ill keep in touchvisually!okay? I know youre scared, too. But were talking about a little boy who has to be in some real trauma right now.
She kissed her dads cheek and then her moms.
Her dad stared at Jackson Crow. Dont you let anything happen to her!
Sir, we will not, Crow promised.
This is all too much. Vickie isnt a cop or an agent or
Dad, Im just going to hang with Noah. It will be fine, Vickie said, determined. Love you both. We have a cop double-parked downstairs. We have to go.
Her parents kissed her again. She glanced at Jackson Crow, flushing slightly. She was surprised at how overprotective her folks were behaving.
Ill be in touch, she promised.
They managed to escape to the hallway. In the elevator, she looked over at Jackson. Im sorry. I mean, Ive been away from home a long time. Ive just moved back and...
Never be sorry that you have people who love you so much, he told her, indicating that the elevator door had opened.
She smiled uneasily and headed out.
They didnt speak in the cop car; Jackson Crow received a call. When they reached the hospital, Jackson knew just which way to go after receiving clearance from the hospitals security. Chrissy was already out of the emergency room and on a floor above.
There was a waiting room; Griffin Pryce was there with Noah Ballantine. He rose when they arrived, nodding at them all. Jackson, Ill head back in. Chrissy has been in and out of consciousness. Detective Barnes is there. We havent pressed her yet.
Great. Noah, how are you doing? Jackson asked.
Im fine, sir. Griffin talked to the doctorsmy mom is really going to be okay. Whoever did this to her gave her a really good conk on the head. They want her to stay here tonight and probably tomorrow night. But shes going to be okay.
Griffin looked at Vickie. She had no idea what he was thinking; he seemed to have acquired the ability to look as stoic as Jackson Crow. Maybe it was FBI training, not to give anything away.
So, Noah, here we are, Vickie said. Im so gladso grateful about your mom.
Bick-bick, he said, smiling. Im so glad youre with me.
Okay, we have some time to kill, she said. Tell me whats up with you.
They sat in the waiting room. Jackson Crow took up a position by the door. Griffin went out.
Noah told her about school and Little League and everything that he was doing. She, in turn, told him about school in New York and coming back and working with some of the older kids in the system. They managed to pass timeuntil Noah fell asleep with his head on her lap.
A police officer in uniform came in and Jackson Crow went out. When she looked down at her lap, Vickie saw that Noah had woken up and was staring at her.
You see Dylan, he said softly.
She didnt mean to jerk with her surprise at his words, but she did.
He smiled. We havent seen a lot of each other since you went to New York, but I know that you see Dylan! I mean, he told me that he hangs with you a lot. He comes home now and then, too. Did he help you find Mom? He wasnt at the house.
No, he wasnt at the house when it happened. But... She hesitated. She had certainly agreed that she saw him. Im sure hes in with her now, she said simply.