Chapter 3 - The Private Clinic
Harrison refused to send Mara to the county hospital.
He ordered his helicopter prepared and flew her to a private medical clinic in Denver.
Lucy and Tommy remained beside her throughout the flight.
Neither child trusted anyone enough to sleep.
Dr. Naomi Keller examined Mara immediately.
She found a deep cut beneath Mara’s ribs, severe dehydration, untreated pneumonia, and traces of an unknown sedative in her blood.
“This injury did not happen tonight,” Naomi said.
“The wound is at least four days old.”
“Could it kill her?”
“If the infection spreads, yes.”
Harrison looked through the glass wall at his daughter.
“Save her.”
Naomi met his eyes.
“We will do everything we can.”
Lucy sat in a chair beside Tommy.
The boy held the wrapped piece of bread against his chest even though a nurse had brought him a full meal.
Harrison crouched in front of them.
“What is your last name?”
“Bennett.”
“Was that your father’s name?”
Lucy nodded.
“Daniel Bennett.”
“Where is he?”
Her expression closed.
“Mom said not to tell.”
“Is he alive?”
“I don’t know.”
Harrison had known a Daniel Bennett.
He was a young accountant hired by Hartland Ranch shortly before Mara disappeared.
Evelyn accused him of stealing money.
Daniel fled before investigators could question him.
Harrison had believed Daniel helped Mara leave.
He had hated him for nearly a decade.
“What happened behind the stable?” Harrison asked.
Lucy looked toward Mara’s room.
“Mom said the ranch was the only place they would not search.”
“Who was searching for you?”
“The men from the white house.”
“Where is the white house?”
“Near the dry river.”
Harrison showed her several maps.
Lucy pointed to land bordering the eastern edge of Hartland Ranch.
The property belonged to a private company called Silver Crown Holdings.
Harrison had never heard of it.
His attorney called fifteen minutes later.
Silver Crown was not an ordinary company.
It had been formed nine years earlier.
The person listed as its original director was Daniel Bennett.
The current director was Evelyn Hart.
Harrison looked toward the clinic hallway.
His sister had followed them to Denver.
May you like
She was standing outside Mara’s room.
And she was speaking privately with Dr. Keller’s head nurse.
