Two doctors and a nurse walked in as Lantana was signing release papers. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and running shoes that Fiona had bought for her.

"Miss Kempton, you still need to see the psychiatrist and you're still not completely back on your feet yet," the doctor argued. "I understand that you're an adult and that you can leave at any time, but I urge you to stay here awhile longer."

"No, I won't do that," Lantana said. "I'm tired of not being in control of my own life. I am leaving."

"We'll be sure she's cared for," Michael said. "She'll be staying with somebody that we trust and we know she'll be safe."

Lantana handed the form to the doctor. "Goodbye," she said. She looked at Sam and Michael. "Can we leave now, please?," she asked.

"Let's go," Sam said. With his hand on her shoulder, Sam walked Lantana from the building as Michael followed a few steps behind.

Outside, Lantana smiled when she saw Michael's car. "Now, that is a nice car," she said. "Dodge Charger. What year, about seventy-two?"

"Seventy-three," Michael replied. "You know cars?"

"American muscle, yes," Lantana replied. "My father used to restore the classics. Some he kept. Others he sold. My favorites are Mustangs actually. But, you can't go wrong with any American Muscle car. This is a beautiful car. If only I could drive."

Michael drove Lantana to his mother's home. "Her name is Madeline," he told Lantana. "We call her Maddie."

"Are you sure this is OK with her?," Lantana asked. "I really don't want to be a burden or impose on anyone."

"It was her idea," Michael replied. "When I told her what was going on, she insisted. That's just who she is."

"I really appreciate it," Lantana said.

The car stopped in front of Madeline's home. Inside, Michael introduced Lantana to his mother.

"Hello, Lantana," Madeline said. "I want you to make yourself at home and help yourself to anything that you need. Don't hesitate." She looked at her son. "Show her the guest room, Michael."

"Come with me, Lantana," Michael said.

"How are you holding up, Maddie?," Sam asked. "I know it's been difficult since Nate died."

"Slow-going," Madeline said. "Does she know?"

"Michael thought she needed to know when we picked her up at the hospital," Sam replied. "She's been through a difficult time, too. Her father died when she was fourteen and her aunt kept her locked in an attic since then. She has not finished school. She hasn't learned to drive. She has no other family. She's really coming out of her shell quite quickly, probably because deep-down she knows that she won't end up in that attic again."

"She needs to come out of her shell, Sam," Madeline said. "I think everyone should be happy. She deserves it too."

"Thanks for helping her out, Maddie," Sam said. "We'll get her a place later, maybe a hotel until she gets on her own two feet."

"That won't be too soon," Madeline said.

"She'll be fine," Sam said. "She's not stupid. She's very intelligent and strong. I think she'll be fine sooner than you think."

"I know you and Michael will help her," Madeline said. "That's what both of you do best."

Madeline hugged Sam.

Outside, Michael and Sam left in the Charger.

"Mikey, how do you think Lantana is going to be?," Sam asked. "I mean, really? After all this? Doesn't she need a shrink? She refused that at the hospital."

"It's her own choice, Sam," Michael said. "But, she is one tough woman. She is determined to get her life back and move on."

"I don't know how she could already be so upbeat," Sam said.

"Everyone handles things their own way, Sam," Michael replied. "I think she just wants to get on with her life and be normal." He took a left turn and continued on. "Some people go into depression, some become agoraphobic, some go crazy, and some even commit violent crimes after such a traumatic event. I don't think Lantana will be that way. She was raised by a great father for the first half of her life and she kept that close to her heart while she was in that attic. That's why she trusted you, just like I thought she would, when she learned who you were."

"You know, Mike, I don't think keeping Lantana from the police is the only reason they kept her locked up," Sam said. "If somebody in the service dies, their closest living relatives receive pensions. Lantana was a minor when her father died, but that means the checks went into a trust fund for her. Once she became an adult, it was all hers. Maybe you should be checking into that. They could be accessing that money to try to flee town."

Michael realized that Sam was right. Why had he never thought that himself? "I'll call Blade," Michael said. "Sam, I'd like to ask you to see of you can track down anyone that knew Lantana and her family. I remember that she mentioned a Nikki. That may have been a childhood friend. If we can track down this Nikki and find her family, we may get some more questions answered."

"That's not a problem," Sam replied. "I will get on that."

"Thanks, Sam," Michael said. "We need all the information on her that we can get. I also want to know if she has anyone else at all."

"She hasn't mentioned anyone else," Sam said. "Guess she was an only child."

"Make sure of that," Michael said.

Sam sighed and looked straight ahead. Could Lantana be hiding something? Anything?

3