Chapter 9 Bound By Blood

Hours have passed and I'm still waiting at home, for Emily to tell me where the helicopter went. I'm wearing down my boots with all the pacing I'm doing. "Come on, Emily. I know you can do this."

"Boss, please, sit down. What Emily is doing is very difficult and not exactly legal. Give her time."

"Come on, Tiff. She's a member of Sophie's

Special Cases Division. She's got more leeway than most cops. She'll be fine. It's Grace I'm worried about."

"You'll find her. I know you will. There's nothing stronger than a bond between sisters."

I take a breath and decide that Tiffany is right. "You're right, Tiff. I hope."

Tiffany doesn't show it, but I can tell. She's worried. She doesn't know how this will play out. Neither do I for that matter. But there's no turning back now.

A few more minutes later and my phone rings. "It's Emily!" I shout to Tiffany. "Hey, Em. Did you find it?"

"It wasn't easy, but I was able to track the helicopter to Virginia. Unfortunately, I lost

it completely, before it landed. So I came up with an idea. Maybe the Meridians have a house or something there. So I checked for properties under their names. No matches came up. So instead, I looked for properties paid for by their bank accounts. Still nothing. Then, the captain called. He went to Dr. Young's house to arrest him in connection with the drug labs, but when he got there, Dr. Young was dead. Captain Gage found him on the floor with a broken neck.``

"Damn. Alex is tying up loose ends. We need to find them. Fast."

"I think I did. You see, the Meridians don't have any property in Virginia, but Dr. Young does. He has a house under his name, paid for with his bank account. It's probably a summer home."

"That's got to be it. Emily, give me the address. I'm going to Virginia."

The journey was too long. I was allowed use of the SCD Private Jet, provided to Sophie's team by the governor, but by the time I arrived in town, it was dark. The town is small, hidden. One of those towns you drive through but never stay at. Makes me think that Dr. Young is from here. Why else would he own a house somewhere so random and remote. It's not important. I immediately set off to the address provided by Emily. Sophie called the local cops for assistance and I am expected to check in with them first thing. But Grace is in danger. I'm not wasting anymore time.

I arrive at the house. There's a light on. Someone must be inside. I sneak up to the

window, my gun in my hand, and peak inside. Bingo. It's Christina. The Meridians maid. I don't see anyone else and I can't risk her getting away. I pick the lock to the front door and sneak inside. Christina is sitting on the sofa, watching a Spanish TV drama. I point my gun at her and reveal myself to her. "Christina. Where are they? Where's Grace?"

"Could you be quiet. I'm watching my stories."

I shoot the TV. "Where are they?!" I yell.

"There's an abandoned farm house on the west side of town. They are waiting for you."

"Christina, you're under arrest." I pull out a pair of handcuffs and cuff Christina. I take out my phone and use the number Sophie gave me, to call the local cops and tell

them to come over. Unfortunately, I can't just leave. I have to wait for the police to arrive. "I'll be there soon, Grace." I say, looking out the window, watching the police arrive.

"You must be detective Orson. I'm Sheriff Moore." The sheriff looks around the room. "Quite the mess you've made here."

"TV was like that when I got here."

"Sure it was. Well then. I understand the severity of the situation so I won't keep you here. We'll take your friend back with us and get as much information from her as we can. Is there anything we can do for you?"

"Actually, yes. Could I get a lift to the abandoned farm house on the west side of town."

"The old Hetherton Farm? Sure. I'll get one of my guys to drive you there. It's best if you have backup and I won't take no for an answer."

"No point in wasting time arguing. Fine." I begin to leave but my curiosity gets the better of me. I turn to face Christina. "Christina? Why are you doing this? Why work for them? Why help them?"

"Master Alex made me an offer. He hates competition, so when he found out my ex husband was a big time dealer, he killed him. He would have killed me too, but I begged him to let me live. He said he would, if I worked for him. Death or servitude. What would you pick?"

After leaving the scene, one of the cops drives me to Hetherton farm. It's not a long drive. Perks of a small town, I suppose. We arrive on the outskirts of the property. An old, wooden house stands two storeys tall. The outside shows that the house has seen better days. It's definitely abandoned. No sign of anyone. I notice an old barn a few feet away from the house, hidden amongst some trees. "Hey, cop guy. Could you check the house? I'm going to check the barn."

"Sure. And the name's Ted."

I walk off towards the barn before Ted even finishes his sentence. "I'm coming Grace." I get closer and closer to the barn and in the dim lighting, I see someone. "Charlotte." I point my gun at her. "Where's my sister?"

"You are far more trouble than you're worth. We've lost everything now, because of you. All my money, gone. My life is ruined. I'll have to start over. However, there is one way we can both walk away happy. I propose a trade. You give me the magpie money and I'll give you your sister. How does that sound?"

"No deal. I don't need you to find Grace. Charlotte Meridian, you're under arrest."

"That's a shame. I suppose we'll have to just kill you then. And not a moment too soon."

"We?" Suddenly a group of men, wearing uniforms with Alex's security company logo on them, appear from inside the barn. All carrying pistols. "Shit." I'm outnumbered. I turn around to escape but more people appear behind me. I've got to

admit, Alex's men are very well trained. I can't see or hear Ted. He could have been killed for all I know. Looks like I'm all alone.

Charlotte stands behind the group of men. "One last time. Where is the money?"

"It's right next to the stick UP YOUR ASS!"

"Kill her."

I make a break for it. I run away into the trees, while pushing my way through a couple of men before they could pull the trigger. Bullets fly in my direction, but thankfully, they either miss or hit a tree. I shoot back, in an attempt to slow my assailants down. Looks like I got lucky..."AHHH FUCK!" A bullet hits me. Digging deep into my arm. I try to ignore the pain as I keep running away. I have no idea where I'm going, I just know I need to get away. The trees start to thin out, then

end completely as I find myself in the most fitting spot I could be in. A graveyard. I keep running, avoiding tripping on gravestones while my arm bleeds onto the ground. At the end of the graveyard is a church. It's old and abandoned, just like most of this town, it seems. I reach the front door and luck is back on my side. The door is unlocked. I go inside and quickly barricade the door with anything I can find.

"Fucking shit. God fucking damn it". Here I am, with a bullet in my arm, bleeding on the cold stone floor of an abandoned church, in a forgotten town in the middle of nowhere.

I look up at the ceiling. The full moon shines brightly in the sky, beaming moonlight into the church from the many holes in its roof. A small pool of blood

forms from my arm. I can't even move it without experiencing a sharp jolting pain from where the bullet entered. "Argh mother fucker". I've been shot before, hazards of the job, but it's not exactly something a person can get used to.

Banging sounds can be heard from the church doors. My assailants, trying to break in. They'd be here by now if I didn't block the entrance with a podium and a bunch of chairs. It won't hold them back forever though. I check my gun to see how many bullets I have. One. I look up and see a large statue of Jesus crucified, hanging from the wall. "One bullet, just for me huh? Well fat chance." I get up off the ground and look around the room for a way out. I could smash the stained glass windows but my attackers will hear it. The back exit. Nah, they've probably got it covered. Well then, time to get creative. I point my gun to

the window and standby the back door. I pull the trigger, hoping that distracts everyone as I run for the back door. "Damn it!" It's not the back door. It's the basement. I take my chances, hoping I could find a way out down there. I go down into the basement and I couldn't believe my eyes. "Holy shit! Grace?!"

Grace was sitting, tied to a chair with duct tape covering her mouth. I rush up to her and gently remove the tape. "Mandy? What are you doing here?"

"I'm here on vacation. What does it look like, I'm here to rescue you." I say as I untie her.

"Why? Why go through all this trouble just for me?"

"Because no matter what, you're my sister.

I failed you before. I won't ever do that again." The ropes untie and fall to the ground. Me and Grace share a hug. The first one in far too long.

Grace starts sobbing. Tears roll down her cheeks and her speech slurs as she tries to talk. "Mandy...I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"It's OK, Grace. Everything is OK. I'm here now."

"Thank you. I suppose I owe you some answers."

"When you are ready, Grace. It can wait."

"No. I need to tell you. My drug overdose wasn't what it seems. I didn't take any drugs. The Meridians used me as a drug mule." Grace lifts her shirt, revealing small surgical scars on her stomach.

"Fuck. Grace, I'm sorry. I didn't know."

"Let me finish. They placed me in the rehab center to monitor my recovery and use me to make more drugs for them, with the other unfortunate people they had locked up. Homeless, runaways, even people who actually needed rehabilitation. When I escaped, I didn't know what to do. I thought about trying to find you, but I didn't want to risk getting you involved. So I went to dad, and we came up with this plan. Find the missing money and use it to get away. That's why I needed it so badly. It's my escape plan. When Chris got involved, the plan was going perfectly. Until I heard you were sniffing around. I wanted you as far away as possible so I caused all kinds of distractions to keep you preoccupied. I stole random stuff, convinced dad to give you false leads and fake clues. It was

going well, until two things happened. Dad couldn't remember where the money was, and you visited the Meridian's house. The plan started to fall apart. We lost track of everything we've done. Dad disappeared. I suppose you know the rest."

"Grace. You're a dumbass. You should have just come to me from the start. Your plan was so random and improvised, it was doomed to fail. Thankfully, your big sister is here to clean up your mess."

"Thanks, Mandy. I love you." Grace hugs me again.

"I love you too, Grace." I say as I hug her in return.

For that moment, nothing else mattered. I was finally reunited with my sister. I had all the answers. The case was solved. Now all that's left is to deal with the Meridians and

find dad.

"So, Mandy. Do you have a plan to get us out of here?"

"Unfortunately, no. I was hoping there'd be an escape tunnel somewhere down here. Actually, now that I think about it, why haven't they broken in already? They could have easily come down here by now." Somethings not right. I have to check, but I can't risk Grace getting hurt. "Grace. I need you to do something for me..."

I leave the basement and arrive back in the main hall. The guards are all inside, sitting in the pews. Charlotte Meridian is standing to the side of the main pedestal. And to nobody's surprise, Alex Meridian is standing front and center. "Welcome, my child. To your deliverance. This is where you will meet God. This is where you die."