Chapter 2 - Thirty More Minutes
I woke to the sound of a heart monitor.
For several seconds, I didn't know where I was.
Then memory returned.
Snow.
Eli.
The red dot.
I tried sitting up.
Pain answered immediately.
“You're not going anywhere.”
A doctor stood beside my bed.
Hollow Falls Regional Medical Center.
Small hospital.
Two floors.
Not remotely secure enough for me.
“How long?”
“Two days.”
My jaw tightened.
“Thirty more minutes in that snow and you wouldn't have had two days.”
The door opened.
Marco Bell entered.
My right-hand man for twelve years.
Six-foot-four.
Former Marine.
One of perhaps three people alive I trusted without checking where his hands were.
He waited until the doctor left.
Then:
“Luca thinks you're dead.”
Good.
“Keep it that way.”
“We've told everyone your vehicle was recovered but you're missing.”
“Who knew about West Virginia?”
“Luca. Bennett. Me.”
Silas Bennett.
My adviser.
Fifteen years beside me.
The man who suggested the private meeting.
“Where's Bennett?”
“Missing.”
Of course.
“And the men who buried me?”
“One identified.”
“Alive?”
“Yes.”
“Keep him that way.”
Marco looked surprised.
The old Dante might have wanted revenge first.
Now I wanted answers.
Then I remembered the boy.
“Where's Eli?”
Marco stared.
“Waiting room.”
“What?”
“He hasn't gone home.”
Two days.
“Why?”
“Says he wants to know whether you survived.”
A few minutes later, Eli entered with Goliath.
His grandfather, Frank Carter, followed.
Eli looked smaller indoors.
He approached my bed carefully.
“Are you dying?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I almost smiled.
“Why did you come back for me?”
He shrugged.
“Goliath wouldn't leave.”
“That isn't an answer.”
“He likes good people.”
Marco coughed.
Frank looked uncomfortable.
I said:
“Your dog needs better judgment.”
Eli smiled.
Then Marco's phone vibrated.
He read the message.
His expression changed.
“What?”
He leaned toward me.
“We found the man who buried you.”
“Talk.”
“He knows you're alive.”
My smile disappeared.
“There's more.”
Marco looked toward Eli.
“He hired someone.”
“How much?”
“Triple market rate.”
“For me?”
Marco hesitated.
“Twenty-four hours to finish everyone who saw the rescue.”
I looked at Eli.
Frank.
Goliath.
The hospital suddenly felt too exposed.
Then the door opened.
A nurse entered.
“Mr. Moretti? There's a police officer asking to speak with the boy.”
Frank frowned.
“Police already interviewed him.”
“What officer?”
The nurse checked her clipboard.
“Detective Warren.”
Marco and I looked at each other.
Hollow Falls had no Detective Warren.
I knew because Marco had already obtained the department roster.
“Lock the door.”
The nurse froze.
“What?”
“Now.”
Marco drew the blinds.
I got out of bed despite the pain.
Then Goliath began growling.
Not toward the hallway.
Toward the ceiling vent.
A faint metallic sound came from inside.
Scrape.
Scrape.
Eli whispered:
“Dante…”
Something small dropped through the ventilation grate.
Marco stared at it.
A phone.
Its screen illuminated.
Live video.
Us.
Someone had been watching the hospital room.
May you like
Then a message appeared.
YOU SHOULD HAVE STAYED BURIED.
