Chapter 7 - HELEN’S ESCAPE
Helen had been transported to a medical appointment after claiming severe chest pain.
The ambulance driver worked for a private company connected to Senator Wynn.
Two vehicles blocked the ambulance near the courthouse tunnel.
The guards were assaulted.
Helen disappeared.
She reached Rebecca before police understood the escape.
The mother who created the entire conspiracy had regained control of the daughter trying to flee it.
Margaret remained on the line.
“Mom.”
Helen’s voice became warm.
The same false warmth she used before every punishment.
“Margaret, this family has suffered enough.”
“Return Rose.”
“Rebecca is protecting her.”
“You told Kayla her baby died.”
“Kayla would have ruined that child.”
“You held Lily over fire.”
Helen’s voice sharpened.
“You embarrassed me in front of everyone.”
“I did not make you do that.”
“You arrived unmarried and pregnant before your sister.”
“I was married.”
Daniel and Margaret had held a small courthouse wedding before announcing the pregnancy.
Helen refused to recognize it because there had been no Ashcroft ceremony.
To her, appearance mattered more than legality.
“You destroyed Rebecca’s future,” Helen said.
“No.”
“You taught her my life was something she had to defeat.”
Silence followed.
Margaret continued.
“You made us afraid that loving each other meant losing your approval.”
Rebecca could hear.
Her crying stopped.
Helen ended the call.
Federal agents traced it to a lakeside property owned through a Wynn shell company.
The house stood near the Canadian border.
Police prepared a rescue operation.
James insisted on helping.
Reeves refused.
“You are not trained for this.”
“I spent forty years managing the properties connected to the trust.”
“I know the service tunnels.”
The lakeside house had been built during Prohibition.
A hidden passage connected the boathouse to the basement.
James provided the original plans.
He did not enter with the tactical team.
He remained at the command post with Margaret and Kayla.
That restraint showed growth.
The old James might have believed saving Lily gave him the right to lead every rescue.
Now he gave information to professionals.
Agents entered before dawn.
The house was empty.
A baby bottle remained warm.
Helen and Rebecca had left through the boathouse tunnel.
A small motorboat was missing.
The lake connected to a river running north.
The border was less than thirty miles away.
Coast Guard units began searching.
Weather conditions worsened.
Heavy rain reduced visibility.
A call came from Rebecca’s phone.
This time, Kayla answered.
“Rebecca?”
“Who is this?”
“Rose’s mother.”
Rebecca became silent.
Kayla’s hands shook.
“I do not hate you.”
“You should.”
“I want my daughter.”
“I can give her everything.”
“She needs me.”
“You are a child.”
Kayla closed her eyes.
“I was a child when adults lied to me.”
“I am still her mother.”
Rose began crying.
Rebecca whispered to the baby.
The sound changed something.
“I did not know they told you she died.”
“I did not know they promised her to you.”
“We were both used.”
Rebecca began breathing unevenly.
Then Helen shouted from the background.
“End the call.”
Rebecca did not.
“Come to the old quarry,” she said.
“Bring Margaret.”
The line disconnected.
James knew the quarry.
It belonged to Ashcroft Stoneworks.
A deep water pit occupied the center.
May you like
Abandoned processing buildings surrounded it.
Helen had chosen another place where fire and stone could become weapons.
