Chapter 20: The Locked Hall

The locks clunked, and fifty people understood at once that they were in a cage.

"Nobody leaves," Hester said, "until we have all calmed down and discussed this like adults."

The woman in silver held her phone up high.

"I'm live," she said. "My daughter's group chat has been watching for ten minutes."

Hester lunged for the phone.

Dale stepped in front of her.

He did not touch her. He stood there, heavy and polite, with his hands folded.

"Ma'am," he said. "I wouldn't."

At the glass doors, a hand slapped flat against the pane.

Maren turned.

Ruth stood outside in a long coat with her handbag over her arm.

Her sister's car was at the curb behind her, and two patrol cars threw blue light across the wet pavement.

Owen stood beside her in a hospital gown and Ruth's cardigan, swaying and grinning.

A news van was pulling up behind the cars.

Ruth looked through the glass and found Maren on the stage.

She lifted her chin, very slightly, and knocked.

"Dale," Maren said into the microphone. "Open the doors."

Dale Rusk looked at the panel by the wall for a long moment.

Then he walked over, took the override key from his own ring, and turned it.

The locks released.

The doors swung open, and cold air came in with two officers, a woman with a notebook, and Ruth.

Owen got three steps inside before he saw Maren, and then he ran.

He took the stage steps two at a time, nearly fell, and she caught him.

"Mare," he said into her hair. "I woke up on a couch. Who is the soup girl?"

"A friend. You're okay."

"I'm so sorry, I'm so, so..."

"I know. Stop."

Behind him the officers had reached the stage.

"Dr. Quillan," said the woman with the notebook, "I'm going to need you to come with me."

Hester stood very straight in her black silk.

She looked at the donors, the phones, the girls in ribbons, Dale and Jonah.

Her smile was still there. It had never left.

"I'm a researcher," she said pleasantly. "I've done nothing but help people."

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