Total pages in book: 133
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 124341 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 622(@200wpm)___ 497(@250wpm)___ 414(@300wpm)
She pulled back and then propped a pillow against the trunk and rested her back on it. She let her eyes move over Sam. He was obviously ignoring her comment, deeply troubled, overwhelmed, perhaps in a bit of shock, and maybe he needed the distraction of hearing what she’d found out. “Yes.” She told him about Kaden and Ashtyn, about Kaden’s experience being taken off the medication.
“Just like you,” Sam said, turning his gaze back to the fire.
“Yes,” she murmured, recalling Ashtyn’s question, and Kaden’s answer at the end of their conversation. She picked up the mug and took a sip of the hot coffee, letting it warm her insides.
They needed a control group. Babies and kids they knew didn’t have the disease.
She told Sam about that too, which caused the worry lines between his brows to grow deeper.
“I don’t know what to do,” Autumn said. “I’m in possession of more information now, but it almost doesn’t matter. Whichever route I go, they’re all going to say the same thing again. Only now it won’t just be me. It will be Kaden too. We experienced hallucinations. We had medication-induced fever dreams. We should enjoy our lives, blah, blah, blah. And I mean, I do. I do. But it doesn’t change the fact that I—we—were also robbed of years and years when we would have been healthy, normal kids. We were lied to, and I want to know why.”
Autumn watched a small muscle in Sam’s jaw as it clenched and unclenched. She leaned forward and put her hand on his arm, and he turned his face to her.
“I know you helping us is a risk, Sam, now more than ever. I know you’re afraid the authorities will take you into custody to question you about the shooting. But you can corroborate what I’ve reported about the woods. And we can’t run forever. Those people killed someone you cared for. If we report what we know…there must be someone who can help us, who will give us the protection of…whistleblowers or…something. Sam?”
He had turned his face back to the fire. “I’ve done illegal things, Autumn. Things that would not be overlooked by law enforcement,” he said stoically.
“I…well, I mean…I figured you were sent to do things that soldiers do, but you were part of a program. Sam…whatever you’ve done, you did because other people directed you.”
“I still did those things.”
Will you tell me about it, Sam? The words were on the tip of her tongue, but she bit them back, fear swirling in her belly. Maybe now wasn’t the time. Perhaps they were already dealing with enough as it was.
Sam watched her, then looked away, lowering his shoulders as though trying to make himself smaller. Autumn reached out her hand to him. She sensed she was letting him down in some very important way, and though she wanted to fix it, she was so incredibly torn. I’m not loving him right. But I’m scared too. How do I do this?
The situation was so complicated, so uncharted, so terrifying, and Autumn was equal parts frustrated, afraid, and just downright sad. She was desperate to help him, to find justice for them and so many others, and to figure out a way to move forward and find safety.
Because she loved him. There must be a way to figure this out.
“I almost didn’t return today. I’m a safety risk to you, Autumn. But I couldn’t…” He let out a gust of breath.
“What?” She gripped his arm. “No. Sam, you have to promise me, no matter what, that you won’t leave without telling me. I couldn’t bear that. I couldn’t bear wondering if you’re okay.”
“You can bear more than you think. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“Sam, please—”
Before she could say another word, the sound of a vehicle met her ears, and they both turned toward the front door.
Autumn’s eyes flew to Sam’s, fear jolting her. “Whoever it is isn’t trying to sneak up on us. It’s probably Bill.” Bill had told her he was meeting with clients today. She’d planned to update him on her trip to Kaden’s tomorrow. But maybe his schedule had changed.
But Sam had gone to his duffel bag and pulled out a weapon. Autumn gasped at the sight of it as he took her arm and positioned himself in front of her next to the door. It happened in an instant, his movements those of someone trained to expect untold definitions of “trouble.”
The knock came then, and neither of them moved.
“Autumn Clancy?” came the voice of a man.
She met Sam’s eyes, and he brought a finger to his lips.
“My name is Agent Mark Gallagher. Sheriff Monroe sent me,” the man called, his voice muffled through the wooden wall.
Sheriff Monroe sent an agent here?
As if the agent outside had heard her internal question, he said, “The sheriff told me to use the password Boston cream doughnuts. He said that’s how you’d know I could be trusted.”