The One He Never Held novel · Chapter 6 of 24

Chapter 6: The Gate

Damian read the message once.

"I'll get the car," he said.

"You've bled and you haven't slept," I said. "Get your coat. My brother drives."

Tim answered on the first ring. "Ten minutes. I'm driving."

He pulled up at the curb in his delivery van, with his apron still on under his jacket.

We went north along the lake in the dark.

Tim drove, Damian took the front seat, and I sat on the back bench.

Nobody said much.

Damian kept looking at the phone in his lap.

The Sorensen gates were shut.

A single light burned over the guardhouse, and a man in a dark coat stepped out and raised his hand.

"Mr. Deverill. It's four in the morning."

"I know what time it is. Open the gate."

"I can't do that, sir."

Tim cut the engine and the rain filled the silence.

Up the long drive the front door opened.

Lionel came down the steps in a dressing gown and slippers, with a lamp behind him lighting his silver hair.

He walked toward us unhurried, hands in his pockets.

"Damian," he called. "Joanna. And young Timothy. What a surprise."

"Where is she?" Damian said.

"Asleep, I hope." Lionel stopped at the gate and smiled through the bars.

"She's had a hard week, Damian. Hysterical girls send all kinds of messages in the night."

"Then it'll take her one minute to say that to my face."

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