Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54208 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 271(@200wpm)___ 217(@250wpm)___ 181(@300wpm)
“She started on the fourth floor,” Magnus said into Hawking’s earpiece.
“Why did you start on the fourth floor?” Hawking asked.
“I… It’s the top one. I was just working my way down,” the imposter said quickly.
Hawking stared at her. “Who contacted you?”
“I don’t know. They said they would help me get medicine that could help my son. He’s so sick,” the woman babbled as her eyes filled with tears.
“Cancer?” Hawking guessed.
“Yes. The doctors have warned they’re running out of options.”
“If you found this woman, what were you to do?” Hawking grilled her.
“I was supposed to send an alert back to that message. I can just say I didn’t find her,” the woman suggested, obviously petrified now that she had gotten caught.
“Give me your real driver’s license,” Hawking insisted, holding out his hand.
She immediately produced it. Hawking knew she was frightened, and that was a good thing. He also sympathized with her motivation. He would have done anything for a chance at hope for his mother.
Taking a picture, he sent the image of the ID to Magnus. Ten minutes later, Magnus spoke into the teams’ earpieces.
“She checks out. All the background information is correct. I’ve scanned her cell phone records, and she was contacted by someone supposedly working with the hospital. I’d say keep her for a while so they think she’s actually looking for Celeste. Then have her text and release her.”
The other team members echoed the decision to release her.
Hawking looked at her pale face and said, “Your story checks out. I’m sorry about your son. The people who are searching for this woman are not good people. Helping them will endanger her and will not cure your son.”
“I’ll send them a message that I didn’t find her,” the woman promised.
“We’ll let you do that in a couple of hours. It’s vital that they think you’ve completed your mission,” Hawking shared.
“Can I check on my son?” she asked urgently.
“Put your phone on speaker so I can hear. Then I’ll hold on to the phone until it’s time to text.”
Two hours later, Hawking was at the front desk monitoring every person coming into the building when a limousine pulled up to the front of the hotel. A few moments later, the driver stepped out of his car and entered. “Is there a Hawking Winther here?”
“Yes, can I help you?” The hairs on the back of Hawking’s neck stood on end.
“Here.”
Hawking unfolded the note that the chauffeur handed him and read:
This car will take the woman and her son to the largest private cancer institute in New Zealand, where he will receive the best care. I will cover the bills.
It was signed with the golden token.
A burden lifted from Hawking’s shoulders. He’d battled himself all day long. Celeste had to be his first priority, but he sympathized so much with this mom who chose to do anything to help her child.
Walking back to the room where she sat surrounded by several people watching her closely, Hawking handed her the note. “This is from the owner of the hotel.” He watched her read it. And reread it.
Her eyes swam with tears as she darted a glance at the large man towering over her. “Does he mean it?”
“There’s a limo outside waiting to go pick up your son.” Hawking held out her phone. “You can send that text now.”
“I would’ve lied about finding that woman, anyway. I’m so ashamed that I could’ve endangered someone else,” she told him.
He simply nodded, then watched her type out a message and send it. She is not here.
There was no response.
“They weren’t going to help him anyway, were they?” she asked.
“Probably not.”
Shaking her head, the woman stood and gestured with the note. “Thank you.”
“May they help your son,” Hawking wished the woman well and escorted her to the front door. “Do not return here.”
“Yes, sir.”
Bowing her head to look down at the sidewalk as she walked out of the building, Hawking watched her go before turning to go check on Celeste.
Chapter Eight
Giggling caught his ear as he got off the elevator. It was infectious, and he smiled as he realized the sound came from more than one Little girl. As he walked down the hall, the laughter grew louder. He knocked on the door and heard it go silent inside.
“It’s me. Hawking.”
The door flew open, and Celeste wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing her body close. Hawking simply encircled her slender waist and lifted her toes from the carpeting as he walked forward. The door slammed shut behind them.
“Hi, Sadie,” he said, giving the other Little a glance.
“Hi, Hawking. I took my lunch break here with Celeste,” Sadie said easily.
“Is everything okay?” Celeste asked, leaning back to peek up at him.
“I hope so. The woman was coerced in hopes of someone helping her son.”
“That’s awful,” Sadie exclaimed.
“Cancer?” Celeste asked.