Chapter 7 - The Secret Buried Beneath the Stars
# Chapter 7 - The Secret Buried Beneath the Stars
Garrett Vale's voice crackled through the radio.
"Tell her what happened to the last person who refused to cooperate."
Walter Briggs stood motionless beside the wooden table.
Rachel Miller watched his face carefully.
For the first time since her abduction, the old man appeared genuinely frightened.
"Walter," Garrett continued, "I don't have all night."
Walter lifted the radio.
"She's trying to remember."
"Then help her remember."
Rachel felt her stomach tighten.
She understood the threat.
Caleb had refused to surrender something.
Now Garrett wanted whatever her husband had hidden, and Walter had been sent to retrieve it.
But there was something Garrett didn't know.
Rachel had finally remembered what Caleb meant when he said they had buried the stars.
And she had no intention of telling either man.
"Rachel," Walter said quietly, "please don't make this difficult."
She looked directly at him.
"You kidnapped me."
"I had no choice."
"That's what you keep saying."
Walter lowered his eyes.
Rachel continued.
"Caleb made choices too. He helped those children. He tried to expose what happened."
"You don't know everything your husband did."
"Neither do you."
Walter's expression changed.
Rachel leaned forward.
"Because if you knew everything, you wouldn't need me."
For several seconds, the only sound was the faint static coming from the radio.
Then Garrett spoke again.
"Walter, put her on."
Walter hesitated.
"Garrett—"
"Now."
He placed the radio near Rachel.
Garrett's voice became almost pleasant.
"Mrs. Miller. I apologize for the inconvenience."
Rachel laughed bitterly.
"You had me kidnapped."
"A temporary precaution."
"Is that what you called murdering my husband?"
Silence.
Then Garrett answered.
"Caleb's death was unfortunate."
"Was it an accident?"
Garrett didn't respond.
Rachel felt her eyes burn.
"Tell me."
"Your husband became involved in matters beyond his understanding."
"He was trying to protect people."
"He was trying to undo something that couldn't be undone."
Rachel gripped the chair.
"Then why are you still afraid of him?"
Garrett's voice hardened.
"Because dead men sometimes leave dangerous things behind."
The radio clicked.
Walter looked at Rachel.
"You need to tell me where Caleb hid the remaining evidence."
She stared back.
"I don't know."
Walter sighed.
"Rachel."
"I said I don't know."
He watched her for a long moment.
Then he turned toward the door.
"You're making a mistake."
Rachel waited until he had left.
Only then did she allow herself to tremble.
Because she did know.
And the secret was buried beneath the place where Caleb had once promised to love her forever.
At Maggie's Roadhouse Diner, Ethan Cross sat across from Emily Reed, struggling to absorb what she had revealed.
Eight years earlier, Caleb Miller had found Lily.
His daughter had been alive.
She had asked whether Ethan still wanted her.
And Caleb had told her the truth.
Ethan looked down at the silver medal resting between them.
"Why didn't Caleb bring her home?"
Emily hesitated.
"Because Lily wasn't free to leave."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"Who was keeping her?"
"People connected to Meridian."
"Garrett?"
"Not directly."
"Then who?"
Emily looked toward the office door.
"Someone Lily trusted."
Ethan leaned forward.
"Emily, I'm tired of people protecting names."
"I'm not protecting anyone."
"Then tell me."
She swallowed.
"Lily believed she had been adopted by a family after her parents died."
Ethan stared at her.
"Who adopted her?"
"A man named Richard Ashford."
The name meant nothing to Ethan.
Emily continued.
"He owned several medical technology companies. He was wealthy, influential, and connected to the people financing Meridian."
"Was he involved in taking her?"
"I don't know how much he knew at the beginning."
Ethan laughed without humor.
"Another person who didn't know."
Emily's eyes filled.
"I know how that sounds."
"Then tell me something certain."
She looked directly at him.
"Richard Ashford raised Lily as his daughter."
Ethan went still.
"Does she love him?"
Emily hesitated.
"She did."
The answer hurt more than Ethan expected.
For twenty years, he had imagined Lily frightened and alone.
He had never considered that she might have grown up loving another father.
A man who had been present for birthdays.
School graduations.
First heartbreaks.
Every moment Ethan had missed.
"Does she know what he did?" Ethan asked.
Emily nodded.
"She found out three weeks ago."
"What happened?"
"She confronted him."
"And?"
Emily looked away.
"He told her she should be grateful."
Ethan's hands tightened.
Emily continued.
"He said her real parents had abandoned her. That he had given her everything."
Ethan's voice dropped.
"And she believed him?"
"For years."
He closed his eyes.
Then Emily said something that made him look up.
"But when she found the hospital records, she started questioning everything."
"Did she find my name?"
"Yes."
"Did she look for me?"
Emily nodded.
"She found photographs of you with the Iron Saints."
Ethan felt his chest tighten.
"She saw me?"
"Yes."
"What did she say?"
Emily smiled through her tears.
"She said you looked exactly like the wolf from the story."
Ethan lowered his head.
He couldn't stop the tears this time.
In the diner's parking lot, Mason Hale was speaking with Boone when Ethan emerged from the office.
Mason took one look at his face.
"Boss?"
Ethan wiped his eyes.
"We have a name."
"Whose?"
"Richard Ashford."
Mason frowned.
"That sounds familiar."
Emily followed Ethan outside.
"It should."
She looked toward the highway.
"Richard Ashford owns Ashford Biomedical Systems."
Mason's expression changed.
"The company that supplies medical equipment to half the hospitals in Texas?"
Emily nodded.
Ethan stared at her.
"How powerful is he?"
"Powerful enough that people stopped asking questions when Meridian closed."
Mason muttered something under his breath.
Ethan looked toward the diner.
"Where's Ava?"
"Inside with Maggie and Leon."
"Keep her there."
Boone approached.
"What about Rachel?"
Ethan's expression hardened.
"We're finding her."
Emily stepped closer.
"I might know where Walter took her."
Everyone turned.
Ethan stared at her.
"What?"
"Walter used several old maintenance properties when he worked for Meridian."
"Where?"
"One was north of San Antonio. Near an abandoned pumping station."
Mason pulled out his phone.
"Address?"
Emily gave him the location.
Ethan studied the map.
Industrial buildings.
An old water treatment facility.
A disused service road.
And a maintenance structure hidden behind trees.
"That's close to where Curtis lost Walter's truck," Mason said.
Ethan looked at Emily.
"How do you know about it?"
Her expression darkened.
"Because Walter kept me there once."
Ethan went still.
"When?"
"When I was a child."
"After you escaped?"
Emily nodded.
"He told everyone he rescued me."
Her voice trembled.
"But he was the one who took me back."
Rachel had been alone for nearly forty minutes when the door opened again.
This time, Walter carried a bottle of water and a sandwich.
He placed them on the table.
"You should eat."
Rachel stared at him.
"Untie me."
Walter hesitated.
"Your hands are getting swollen."
"Then untie me."
He looked toward the door.
Finally, he loosened the restraints enough for her to move her arms in front of her.
Rachel rubbed her wrists.
Walter pushed the food closer.
She ignored it.
"Why did you betray Caleb?"
Walter sat opposite her.
"I didn't want him dead."
"But you knew someone wanted him dead."
He looked down.
"Yes."
Rachel felt tears burn behind her eyes.
"Did you warn him?"
Walter remained silent.
She shook her head.
"You let him die."
Walter's face tightened.
"I tried to convince him to stop."
"That's not the same thing."
"No."
For a moment, he looked very old.
Then he spoke.
"Caleb found Hannah Price."
Rachel frowned.
"Emily?"
Walter nodded.
"He discovered that she had been living under a false identity."
"And?"
"He started looking for the other children."
"Lily?"
"Yes."
Rachel leaned forward.
"Did he find her?"
Walter hesitated.
"Eventually."
Rachel stared at him.
"Then why didn't he tell Ethan?"
Walter looked up sharply.
"Because he didn't know Ethan."
Rachel frowned.
"What?"
"Caleb found Lily before he learned who her father was."
Rachel tried to understand.
"Then how did he find Ethan?"
Walter's expression changed.
"He didn't."
A cold feeling settled in Rachel's stomach.
"What do you mean?"
Walter looked toward the radio.
"Someone else found Ethan."
"Who?"
Walter hesitated.
Then he whispered, "Sarah Cross."
Rachel went still.
Ethan's former wife.
Walter continued.
"Sarah knew Lily was alive. She had known for years."
"Because Garrett threatened her."
"That's what she told you."
Rachel stared at him.
"Are you saying she lied?"
Walter looked away.
"I'm saying Sarah made an agreement."
"What agreement?"
"She promised not to contact Ethan in exchange for information about Lily."
Rachel frowned.
"Why would she agree to that?"
Walter's voice dropped.
"Because Garrett told her Ethan was responsible for the original disappearance."
Rachel stared at him.
"That's impossible."
"I know."
"Then why would she believe it?"
Walter looked toward the door.
"Because someone showed her evidence."
Rachel felt a chill.
"What evidence?"
Walter's expression darkened.
"A photograph of Ethan entering St. Catherine's with a man who worked for Meridian."
Ethan and the Iron Saints reached the abandoned pumping station shortly after two in the morning.
They parked well away from the building.
Mason had already contacted the state investigators handling Rachel's kidnapping report.
The officers were on their way.
Ethan knew they should wait.
But then his phone vibrated.
A message from Rachel's number.
You have thirty minutes.
Below it was a photograph.
Rachel sat in a wooden chair.
Her face was pale.
Her wrists were visibly bruised.
Ethan felt his blood turn cold.
Mason looked over his shoulder.
"Is that her?"
Ethan nodded.
Another message arrived.
Come alone. Bring Caleb's notebook.
Mason shook his head.
"No."
Ethan stared at the screen.
"They know we're here."
"Then we wait for the police."
"What if Walter hurts her?"
Mason gripped his shoulder.
"Think."
Ethan looked toward the dark building.
A single light glowed behind a covered window.
Somewhere inside, Rachel was waiting.
He remembered her standing in the motel parking lot, telling him he didn't have to face everything alone.
He remembered the way she had held Ava.
The way she had defended Caleb even while learning about his secrets.
And the way she had looked at Ethan when he told her about Lily.
He couldn't lose another person.
Not now.
Ethan took a breath.
"Call the investigators again. Tell them we've located the likely building."
Mason nodded.
"And you?"
Ethan looked toward the entrance.
"I'm going to make sure Rachel knows we're here."
Inside, Rachel heard footsteps outside the building.
Walter approached the door.
His radio crackled.
A voice spoke.
"Movement near the service road."
Walter stiffened.
"How many?"
"Unknown."
He looked at Rachel.
"Did you tell someone where we are?"
She stared at him.
"How could I?"
Walter's expression hardened.
He reached for the radio.
"Garrett, we have company."
Static.
Then Garrett answered.
"I know."
Walter frowned.
"What?"
"I sent them."
Rachel watched Walter's face change.
"Who?"
Garrett's voice became cold.
"People who can finish what you couldn't."
Walter stepped backward.
"Garrett, we had an agreement."
"Yes."
"You said Rachel wouldn't be hurt."
"I said I needed the evidence."
Walter stared at the radio.
"What are you doing?"
Garrett paused.
Then answered.
"Cleaning up."
The transmission ended.
Walter slowly lowered the radio.
Rachel saw fear spread across his face.
Real fear.
For the first time, he understood that Garrett intended to eliminate everyone who knew too much.
Including him.
Outside, Ethan approached the maintenance building from the main service road.
He carried Caleb's notebook in one hand.
His phone remained connected to Mason.
The front door opened.
Walter appeared.
Ethan stopped.
"Where's Rachel?"
Walter looked toward the darkness beyond the road.
"Inside."
"Bring her out."
Walter hesitated.
"Ethan, listen to me."
"Bring her out."
"Garrett betrayed me."
Ethan laughed bitterly.
"Imagine that."
Walter stepped forward.
"He's sending people to kill us."
Ethan's expression changed.
"Then get Rachel out."
Walter looked over his shoulder.
A vehicle engine sounded in the distance.
Then another.
Headlights appeared between the trees.
Walter went pale.
"They're here."
Ethan moved toward the building.
"Rachel!"
Her voice answered from inside.
"Ethan!"
He pushed past Walter.
Rachel stood near the table, her wrists free but bruised.
When she saw him, her face crumpled.
"Ethan."
He hurried toward her.
"Are you hurt?"
She shook her head.
"Not badly."
He checked her arms.
"Can you walk?"
"Yes."
"Then we're leaving."
Rachel grabbed his sleeve.
"Wait."
"What?"
"Walter told me something."
"Whatever it is, it can wait."
"No."
Her eyes filled.
"It's about Sarah."
Ethan froze.
"What about her?"
Rachel swallowed.
"She believed you were involved in Lily's disappearance."
Ethan stared at her.
"That's insane."
"I know."
"Who told her that?"
"Garrett."
Ethan felt a wave of anger.
Of course.
Garrett had manipulated everyone.
Caleb.
Walter.
Sarah.
And now Rachel.
But before he could respond, a loud crash echoed outside.
Glass shattered.
Walter shouted.
"Get down!"
Ethan pulled Rachel behind a concrete support column.
A second crash followed.
Then the unmistakable sound of gunfire.
Mason heard the shots from the service road.
He immediately ducked behind the truck.
"Shots fired!" he shouted into his phone. "Multiple suspects, armed! We need units now!"
Boone crouched beside him.
"Where's Ethan?"
"Inside."
"Then we go get him."
Mason shook his head.
"Not into open gunfire."
He looked toward the building.
Two vehicles had stopped near the rear entrance.
Several armed figures moved between them.
Mason couldn't tell how many.
He gripped his phone.
"Ethan, answer me."
Static.
Then Ethan's voice.
"We're inside. Rachel's with me."
"Can you get out?"
"Not through the front."
"Stay down. Officers are coming."
Ethan looked toward Rachel.
She was trembling.
He took her hand.
"Look at me."
She did.
"We're getting out."
Rachel nodded.
Then she whispered, "Ethan, there's something else."
He frowned.
"What?"
"Caleb left a message."
"Where?"
"Somewhere Walter doesn't know."
Ethan stared at her.
"Where?"
Rachel looked toward the ceiling.
"At the church."
Ethan shook his head.
"We searched the floor."
"Not the floor."
She swallowed.
"Caleb said we buried the stars."
Ethan frowned.
"What does that mean?"
Rachel's eyes filled.
"On our wedding day, we placed a small metal box inside the wall behind the altar. We wrote wishes for our future children and sealed it beneath a wooden star."
Ethan stared at her.
"Caleb used the same hiding place?"
Rachel nodded.
"I think so."
Outside, another shot rang out.
Rachel gripped his arm.
"Whatever he left there, Garrett is terrified of it."
Walter stumbled into the room.
Blood stained his sleeve.
Ethan turned sharply.
"You're hit."
Walter pressed a hand against his arm.
"Just a graze."
"Where are the shooters?"
"Rear entrance."
Ethan looked toward the narrow hallway.
"Is there another exit?"
Walter nodded.
"Maintenance tunnel."
"Where does it lead?"
"Old drainage channel."
Ethan grabbed Rachel's hand.
"Show us."
Walter hesitated.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"Before we go, there's something I need to tell you."
Ethan stared at him.
"Now?"
Walter's face was pale.
"Yes."
"What?"
The old man swallowed.
"I wasn't the one who ordered Lily taken."
Ethan's expression hardened.
"I know. Garrett was involved."
Walter shook his head.
"No."
Ethan froze.
"What?"
"Garrett carried out the operation. But someone else authorized it."
"Who?"
Walter looked at Rachel.
Then back at Ethan.
"Someone who knew your family."
Ethan felt cold.
"Name."
Walter's voice trembled.
"Richard Ashford."
Ethan stared at him.
The man who had raised Lily.
The man who had convinced her that her parents abandoned her.
The man who had stolen twenty years of her life.
But Walter wasn't finished.
"Richard didn't choose Lily by accident."
Ethan's stomach tightened.
"What do you mean?"
Walter swallowed.
"He wanted your daughter specifically."
"Why?"
Walter looked toward the hallway.
"Because of Sarah."
Ethan felt the room tilt.
"What does Sarah have to do with Richard Ashford?"
Walter's eyes filled with shame.
"She knew him before she married you."
They escaped through the maintenance tunnel minutes before state investigators arrived.
The armed men fled when police vehicles approached the property.
Walter was taken into custody after receiving medical attention.
Rachel gave a statement.
Ethan remained beside her throughout.
By dawn, the immediate danger had passed.
But the truth had become more complicated than ever.
Sarah Cross had known Richard Ashford.
Richard had specifically targeted Lily.
And Walter had spent twenty years helping conceal the crime.
Ethan sat outside the police station, staring at his phone.
Sarah's number was still saved.
He hadn't called it in years.
Now he pressed the screen.
The call rang.
Once.
Twice.
Then someone answered.
"Ethan?"
Sarah's voice.
Older.
Tired.
But unmistakable.
He closed his eyes.
"Sarah."
A long silence followed.
Then she whispered, "You found out."
Ethan's jaw tightened.
"About Lily?"
"About Richard."
He stared at the pavement.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
Sarah began crying.
"Ethan, please understand—"
"No."
His voice broke.
"Twenty years. You let me bury our daughter."
"I thought I was protecting her."
"From who?"
Sarah hesitated.
Then she said something Ethan had never expected to hear.
"From Richard."
Ethan stood.
"Why would Richard want Lily?"
Sarah's breathing became uneven.
"Because he believed she belonged to him."
Ethan froze.
"What?"
Sarah began sobbing.
"Ethan, there's something I never told you about the year before Lily was born."
He gr